We canvass the 1/ST BET statistical database each week to bring you up to speed with racing at Golden Gate Fields. Check back weekly for statistical trends and tidbits for premier racing in Northern California. And be sure to support GGF by betting with 1/ST BET, the official betting app of Golden Gate Fields.

Headlines

The Thursday-Sunday racing week starts with a $64,697 Rainbow 6 carryover jackpot … Turf racing returned last Thursday to Northern California, a welcome sign of spring … 2021 El Camino Real Derby winner Rombauer may have punched his ticket to the Kentucky Derby when the Michael McCarthy trainee finished third in the Grade 2 Blue Grass on April 3 at Keeneland. Rombauer has 34 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, and owns a Preakness automatic berth via his El Camino Real Derby win … GGF is gearing up for its Gold Rush Weekend April 24-25, featuring the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile among 8 stakes in all. Nominations close April 15-16 … Grade 1 winner Keeper Ofthe Stars returned a popular winner here Apr. 3 in allowance company, her first start since August.

Stronach 5

Last week’s Stronach 5 paid $2,752 to 42 winning tickets. Stronach 5 races this Friday, April 9, will be:

Leg A – Laurel Park Race 8 with an approximate post time of 4:45 ET
Leg B – Gulfstream Park Race 8 with an approximate post time of 4:50 ET
Leg C – Laurel Park Race 9 with an approximate post time of 5:16 ET
Leg D – Gulfstream Park Race 9 with an approximate post time of 5:22 ET
Leg E – Golden Gate Fields Race 3 with an approximate post time of 5:27 ET

1/ST BET Top Factors Last Week:

Horseplayers using the 1/ST BET app saw the most success with these 2 of the 52 handicapping filters for Golden Gate Fields, each posting at least 34% winners and a flat-bet profit.

Lifetime Earnings
Best Lifetime Speed

Trends Last Week

-- 10 races were held on the turf last week, the first such action of 2021. Favorites were 10: 6-1-2 on the green, and 9 winners were 5-2 or less odds. But a $130 claiming bomber on Friday blew up the tote.

-- Jockey Armando Ayuso not only orchestrated the big $130 upsetter last week, but was 14: 5-0-2 overall in a very strong showing. He also had a $74 longshot winner on the main track. His ROI was $8.51 for every $1 bet.

-- Trainer Michael McCarthy went 3: 2-0-1 on the grass last week, scoring with a couple of mile favorites. Kyle Frey, who posted a 9: 4-0-3 turf mark on week, was aboard both McCarthy victors.

-- Proving it can be a humbling game, trainer Steve Sherman’s runners were 0-7 last week, just 1 week after he won 7 races from 13 starters.

-- Favorites were 16-for-34 (47%) last week at Golden Gate, and have remained stout at 41% throughout the 2021 season.