The holiday spirit continues and racing fires back up Sunday, and the focus this week is on Golden Gate Fields, which has a Late Pick 4 that’s worthy of our attention.

The sequence goes from races 8-11, and the featured 10th is a mile allowance race full of experienced and capable runners.

The suggested Pick 4 tickets amounts to $80, and here’s how I see it playing out:


8th Race (5:45 p.m. ET, claiming)

ALL MY HOPE has the best form of any of these and came on for third last out. Is a four-time winner that qualifies under these conditions that don’t consider claiming and starter race for $10,000 or less for eligibility.

Has taken three of her last five races and her strength is that she can adapt to any scenario and at most any distance she faces.

This is a tough level, though, and several others are worth a look as well.

Also on the ticket: STAND IN YOUR LOVE, BLACK DROP, SEGURO, CANAM GAL.


9th Race (6:15 p.m. ET, maiden special weight)

GREAT STORY’s only start is a throw out as he was badly beaten on turf at Santa Anita in January. It’s been nearly a year since that only try, and since then, he’s transferred over to the Jonathan Wong stable and has been work very well over the Golden Gate Fields surface.

He’s in a wide-open maiden race that features a lot of speed and he faces several that cannot be a long way from a maiden win.

Also on the ticket: SWIMMINGWITHSHARKS, EXCEED SPEED LIMIT, MURPHYS TIGER.


10th Race (6:45 p.m. ET, allowance)

TOM’S SURPRISE was an easy starter allowance winner last time and can successfully make the step back up to allowance company.

Was claimed by the Steiner stable three races back and has performed well in several for the Wong barn. Has won six of 10 races over the Golden Gate strip and usually has some late energy. Tough at this mile distance.

Also on the ticket: BURNIN TURF.


11th Race (7:15 p.m. ET, claiming)

ROBS LUCKY SPIRIT can benefit a class drop and has in his favor a few other factors. He usually shows interest late in one-mile races, can get a good run from the rail, and looks good at this lowest level. You must always wonder about such a drop, and for that, there are plenty of others to consider as well.

Also on the ticket: SINGLE BARREL, LINFIELD, SUNNY SPOT.


Golden Gate Fields 50-cent Late Pick 4:

Race 8) #1 Stand in Your Love, #3 Black Drop, #4 Seguro, #5 All My Hope, #7 Canam Gal.
Race 9) #1 Swimmingwithsharks, #6 Great Story, #7 Exceed Speed Limit, #8 Murphys Tiger.
Race 10) #8 Tom’s Surprise, #9 Burnin Turf.
Race 11) #1 Robs Lucky Spirit, #4 Single Barrel, #6 Linfield, #7 Sunny Spot.

The ticket: 1-3-4-5-7 with 1-6-7-9 with 8-9 with 1-4-6-7 ($80).