A well-balanced field of six, including four graded stakes winners, is set to go in the $100,000 Nov. 25 All-American (gr. III) as part of the long Thanksgiving weekend at Golden Gate Fields in northern California.
Drawing the rail in the 1 1/8-mile test over the Tapeta all-weather surface was Bold Chieftain, an 8-year-old son of Chief Seattle who has won 14 stakes and earned $1,653,171 in 45 career starts for trainer William J. Morley Jr. Winner of the San Francisco Mile Handicap (gr. IIT) in 2010, Bold Chieftain is coming off a 1 1/4-length triumph over All-American entrant Uh Oh Bango in the Bull Dog Stakes at Fresno.
Prior to the Bull Dog, which was the first win of the season for Bold Chieftain, he had four consecutive second-place finishes including a head loss to Uh Oh Bango in the Berkeley Handicap. That marked the third straight year Bold Chieftain had finished second by a head in the Berkeley. He will be ridden by regular rider Russell Baze.
Uh Oh Bango, a Triple AAA Ranch homebred, has won or placed in 11 of 15 career starts while earning $436,712. Subsequent to the Berkeley, the 4-year-old son of Top Hit was moved up in class to finish fourth in the Triple Bend Handicap (gr. I) and eighth in the San Diego Handicap (gr. II). He breaks from post 2 under Aaron Gryder, who was aboard for the Berkeley win and the Bull Dog.
Skipshot , who starts from the outside hole, won the Swaps Stakes (gr. II) at Hollywood Park earlier this year for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Following that win over the highly regarded Sidney’s Candy, the 4-year-old son of Skip Away was shipped east for a fourth-place effort in the West Virginia Derby (gr. II). Back in northern California, Skipshot has made three starts, the best being a third in allowance company Nov. 4.
The other graded winner in the All American is New Zealand-bred Our Natique, also trained by Hollendorfer. The front-running 6-year-old gelding has won or placed in six of eight starts this year and sports a career tally of 9-5-4 from 29 starts and earnings of $253,040. He finished third in the 2010 renewal of the All American.
$100,000 All American (gr. III, Race 8, 4:15 p.m.), 3 & Up, 1 1/8 Miles (Tapeta)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Bold Chieftain (CA), R Baze, 123, W J Morley, Jr.
2. Uh Oh Bango (AZ), A Gryder, 123, Kory R Owens
3. Dunmore East (KY), I Beato, 123, Lloyd Mason
4. Our Nautique (NZ), K Krigger, 123, J Hollendorfer
5. Highway Bandit (KY), W Antongeorgi III, 123, S Sherman
6. Skipshot (KY), F Alvarado, 123, J Hollendorfer
Bold Chieftain will break from the rail in the All-American at Golden Gate.
Vassar Photography