Jockey nearly pulls off sweep of 2 stakes races at Golden Gate Fields

Jockey Juan Hernandez rode horses with opposite styles in races with contrasting pace scenarios and nearly pulled off a sweep of the two stakes for California-bred 3-year-olds Sunday at Golden Gate Fields.

In the $100,000 Campanile Stakes for fillies, Hernandez helped Lavadia transition from going fast early in sprints on the synthetic main track to slowing down for 1 mile on grass. But she couldn’t withstand the closing charge of 2-5 favorite Pulpit Rider, who surged past in the final yards to win by three-quarters of a length.

In the $100,900 Silky Sullivan Stakes, Hernandez had 10-1 shot Hardboot in last place behind a fast pace, took him outside on the second turn, and they ran past the leaders in deep stretch to win by 1¾

lengths.

“I knew the pace was going to be fast, so I tried to save ground, look for a place to go and make one run,” Hernandez said. “They told me he was going to kick today, and he did. I had a lot of horse.”

Night at the Opera outsprinted the other quick horses but had to set fractions of 23.39 seconds, :47.87 and 1:11.87 to do it. He maintained the lead to mid-stretch before fading to fifth.

Trained in Southern California by Michelle Dollase, Hardboot finished the mile in 1:37.33 for his second win in six starts. Unpossible, a 34-1 shot making his turf debut, did very well to finish second after running close to the pace.

Two races earlier, Lavadia set fractions of 25.01 seconds,

:49.72 and 1:13.75 while maintaining a 1-length lead over Our Bold Princess. That filly tried to overtake the pace setter on the second turn, but Lavadia discouraged her and spurted to a 2-length lead in early stretch.

Meanwhile, Pulpit Rider ran comfortably in third place until jockey Corey Nakatani asked her to go leaving the second turn. She didn’t respond at first, but she did once she leveled off in mid-stretch and won in 1:38.63 for trainer Mike Puype.

“It took a little while to get her feet under her,” Nakatani said. “We were as close as we were because the pace was so slow. She’s used to much faster paces down south. It was good news that she was able to overcome it.“

Though Lavadia had won two of four starts going 5½ and 6 furlongs, Pulpit Rider won the California Cup Oaks and finished fourth in the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes in her two two-turn grass races prior to Sunday.

“You can’t be upset, getting beat by that filly,” said Quinn Howey, who trains Lavadia.

“It was a slow pace and very comfortable for her,” Hernandez said. “She’s used to going so much faster, so she ran great. A good horse beat us in the last couple of jumps.”

Getting Sideways, who had two wins and a second in three two-turn races on Golden Gate Fields’ main track, finished fast on the rail for third — a halflength behind Lavadia.