Trainer Bonde on Roll

Eight days after Santa Anita had its first 2-year-old race of 2002, Golden Gate Fields will get into the act this afternoon.

Most of the horses in these two-furlong races will probably be nothing more than memories a year from now, but the quarter-mile dash will be part of the day’s pick six, which, like Santa Anita, has a carryover. The much larger one is local with $125,839 awaiting players.

The 2-year-old race is the fourth on the card.

According to the Daily Racing Form, trainer Jeff Bonde has won with 24% of his last 103 2-year-old starters and he is hitting at 18% with his last 49 first-time starters.

A winner with 27 of his first 99 runners at the current Golden Gate Fields meet, Bonde will be represented by Bella Bimba, a daughter of Siphon.

From the rail out, the rest of the field includes Always Remember, a son of Open Forum, who is in turn a son of Deputy Minister; Bang, a Ballistic Billy colt; the B. Hoedown colt B. Lucky; Cash Creek, a Makaleha gelding; B. Good Hero, who is a Sea Hero colt; Bank On Slew, a daughter of Slewdledo; Souvenir’s Lad, a son of Souvenir Copy who had a debut winner at Santa Anita last week; Dr. Batonnier, a gelded son of, surprise, Batonnier; and the filly Ama Ray, a daughter of Xray.

Race of the day: Johar will try to remain unbeaten on the grass in today’s seventh at Santa Anita.

Who’s hot: Mellow Fellow, who won his fifth in a row for trainer Bill Morey Jr. when he took the Danville Handicap on Sunday at Golden Gate Fields.

Who’s not: Trainers Harry Nelson, Robert Sides, Danny Velasquez, Scott Craigmyle and Juan Cervantes, who are 0 for 65. Each has a starter in today’s first at Santa Anita.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Bold Mind and Cobra Son in the fifth, singling La Bandera in the sixth, using Johar, Western Stranger and Saphir Indien in the seventh and using Ship Ahoy, No Toro, Crestbrook and Evil Rumors in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 1/185. Money: Previous day/meet total: $8/$1,094.20. Total money bet: $1,132.