Builder aims for next level

Builder already has proved to be a good claim, but he can upgrade himself to excellent if he wins the Grade 3, $100,000 All American Stakes on Monday at Golden Gate Fields.

Trainer Isidro Tamayo took Builder for $12,500 out of a distant second-place finish Feb. 7 at Santa Anita and moved the gray gelding to Golden Gate Fields.

Builder won a starter allowance and first-level allowance and finished a close-up third for a $62,500 claiming price behind More Power to Him and Gabo’s Macondo — who also run in Monday’s 1-mile event.

So Builder has earned $33,840 since the claim and can make $60,000 more with a win in the All American Stakes.

“One of the owners, John Tipton, picked him out,” Tamayo said. “We were going to put him back in for $12,500 down there, but we worked him a couple of times and thought, ‘We’ve got something here.’ In that starter allowance he drove like a monster in the last 50 yards. Last time, with a better trip the outcome would have been a little different.”

Tamayo, 33, has been around horses his entire life.

“My father (Alfonso) worked for many years with Old English Rancho and was the assistant to their trainer, Donald Warren,” Tamayo said. “Then he worked up here for Lonnie Arterburn before retiring.”

Isidro Tamayo began his racetrack career as a groom for Bay Area trainer Gil Matos in 2004 and advanced to assistant trainer in 2007. He took out his own trainer’s license in 2017 and has won with 97 of 526 starters.

“My dad is the reason I’m here,” Tamayo said. “In this game, you like it or you don’t. I’m very passionate and I’ve been lucky to have good owners who let me do what I want with their horses. It’s easy when it’s going your way, but this business is tough. You’ve got to stay focused and work hard. You put in the time and try to learn from people who’ve been in the business for a long time.”

Builder is 10-1 in the morning line against seven opponents Monday. The Jerry Hollendorfertrained Choo Choo (5-2) and Grecian Fire (3-1) are the favorites after they finished third and fifth, respectively, in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile.

That grass race had a much classier field than the All American Stakes — which is run on the main track — so Builder may not be out of his element.

“At first he was a bully horse that wanted to do things his own way,” Tamayo said. “Now he’s a completely different horse and we’re hoping to get lucky.”