From Golden Gate Fields Publicity
ALBANY, Calif. (May 11, 2014) — The promising California-bred colt G. G. Ryder earned his first stakes victory Sunday at Golden Gate Fields when he held off Pazmeifucan down the stretch and won the $75,000 Alcatraz Stakes by 1 3/4 lengths under jockey Russell Baze.
Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, G. G. Ryder took the one-mile turf race for 3-year-olds in 1:36.98 and paid $3.40 as the 3-5 favorite in a field of five. Pazmeifucan, ridden by Ricardo Gonzalez, finished three lengths in front of third-place Flagman and jockey Barrington Harvey.
G. G. Ryder, who has five wins in six starts this year, improved to 2-for-2 on turf and is 3-for-6 on synthetic surfaces.
“He’s an athletic colt, so I don’t think it’s going to matter too much what surface you lead him over to,” said Baze.
G. G. Ryder stalked pacesetter Latitudefortytwo through honest early fractions (23.16 and 47.46), moved up to challenge for the lead midway around the far turn and then forged to the front at the top of the stretch.
G. G. Ryder turned back challenges from Pazmeifucan and Pete’s Slew in the lane to record his third straight victory.
“He’s a colt that is just going to go a little quick,” said Baze. “He’s kind of a bulldog if you try to take him back too much. He’ll fight you. He just likes to be left alone, but when you chirp to him, he lays his ears back and goes. He just really levels out and tries. I like that about him.”
G. G. Ryder is by the A. P. Indy sire Chhaya Dance and was bred in California by Eagle Oak Ranch LLC. Hollendorfer purchased G. G. Ryder privately following his second start – a second-place finish in a $32,000 maiden-claiming race at Golden Gate Fields last December – and owns the colt in partnership with George Todaro.
“An agent presented it to me that the horse was for sale,” said Hollendorfer. “He was a good-looking horse that ran well here, and he was a Cal-bred, which made it a little more appealing. He likes the turf. He could end up being a valuable horse, especially if he can run at Del Mar (this summer). They have big purses for Cal-breds.”
G. G. Ryder earned $45,000 for the Alcatraz win and has banked $131,230 in eight career starts.