By Bloodhorse.com
ALBANY, Calif. (May 29, 2017) –In a thrilling finish of the $100,000 All American Stakes (G3), Jerry Hollendorfer and George Todaro’s California-bred G. G. Ryder won a four-way blanket finish to claim a victory May 29 against familiar foes.
The 6-year-old son of Chhaya Dance ran into traffic issues in last year’s edition of the All American and finished 11th, but was an easy winner two years ago, finishing 1 1/4 lengths ahead. Bred in California by Eagle Oak Ranch out of the Storm Boot mare Stormy Gigi, G. G. Ryder now boasts a record of 13-9-3 from 36 starts, with earnings of $611,095.
In the one-mile test over Golden Gate Fields‘ synthetic track Monday, Alert Bay broke sharply and headed for the lead but had to settle for second behind longshot Street Lad. Dalmore raced in third and G. G. Ryder, with jockey Irving Orozco up, was fourth. Street Lad set fractions of :25.14 and :49.46 through the first half-mile.
Into the second turn, jockey Juan Hernandez asked Alert Bay to step up and challenge Street Lad, but the frontrunner wasn’t ready to give up, as six furlongs went in 1:12.98. Street Lad extended his lead to 1 1/2 lengths into the stretch as Alert Bay chased, and G. G. Ryder and Flamboyant were flying on the outside. The four of them were stride for stride as they hit the wire together, G. G. Ryder getting a head over Flamboyant for the win. Alert Bay was another head back in third, and Street Lad was fourth. The final time was 1:37.48.
Sent off at 10-1, G. G. Ryder paid $23.80, $9.80, and $4.20 across the board.
Last out, the chestnut horse stalked the pace and nabbed second, 1 1/4 lengths behind Alert Bay, in the San Francisco Mile Stakes (G3T). He hasn’t run off the board in his last seven starts, including a narrow loss in the grade 3 Berkeley Handicap last November.
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