From Golden Gate Fields Publicity
ALBANY, Calif. (Dec. 12, 2019) – Graded stakes winner Apache Princess and defending champion The Spiral Jetter are entered in Saturday’s $75,000 Bear Fan Stakes for Golden State Series-eligible fillies and mares at Golden Gate.
Apache Princess is one of two Southern California shippers that is expected to get plenty of support in the wagering. The Keith Desormeaux trainee — bred and owned by KMN Racing — most recently ran second in the Grade 3 Senator Ken Maddy Stakes sprinting on turf. She also finished second in the Grade 2 San Clemente earlier this year. This will be her career debut on synthetics, and she must overcome the inside post position. William Antongeorgi III rides for the first time.
Lippy, bred and owned by Reddam Racing, has appeal as well. The Doug O’Neill conditioned 3-year-old filly makes her first start in eight and a half months, having most recently finished off-the-board going two turns in the Campanile Stakes on Gold Rush Weekend Sunday. Earlier in the year, Lippy ran second in the California Cup Oaks, and as a 2-year-old, she won the Juan Gonzalez Memorial at Pleasanton. Southern California jockey Mario Gutierrez, who rides in 10 Golden Gate races on Saturday, will guide Lippy from the outside post position.
2018 Bear Fan Stakes winner The Spiral Jetter, bred by Perry Bruno, looks to defend her title from post position four. She cuts back from a route to a sprint after two allowance runs going two-turns, one of which resulted in a hard-fought victory in September. Leading fall meet jockey Juan Hernandez retains the mount for trainer Andy Mathis.
Longtime Bay Area conditioner Sergio Ledezma has a strong 1-2 punch for the Bear Fan in Princess Vivien and Vronilla Parfait. Princess Vivien, bred by ownersMNM Thoroughbreds, won an allowance race in September and makes her stakes debut in this spot while Vronilla Parfait, bred by Leon Lewis and Bill Hipwell, strolls into the Bear Fan fresh off an allowance victory over Grade 2 placed Tomlin on November 16.
Ima Happy Cat was last seen running third behind Vronilla Parfait and Tomlin in the aforementioned November 16 allowance and returns in this stake for trainer Dan Markle. Ima Happy Cat won the Hastings Stakes at Emerald Downs last June and also was the runner up in the Camilla Urso Stakes on grass earlier this year.
Trina rounds out the field. Bred by Joe Daehling, the Holly Evans trainee broke her maiden two starts ago against open maiden special weight company before finishing second last month in an allowance race.