Evenerevenworse (#3 inside) battles Top Harbor for the Albany win (Vassar Photography)
Golden Gate Fields Press Box
BERKELEY, Calif.— Supplemented into the $50,000 Albany Stakes on entry day Wednesday by his connections, 5-year-old bay gelding Evenerevenworse rewarded his connections with a gate-to-wire win in the signature on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields for 3-year-olds and upward at five furlongs on the turf. Evenerevenworse was sent off at odds of 7-1.
Evenerevenworse broke like a rocket from post position three, assumed control on the front end, opened up over two lengths down the backstretch and dived to the rail in the early stages of the race. Setting speedy fractions of 21.11 and 44.49 seconds, Evenerevenworse led throughout the first half mile before feeling the presence of 6-5 race favorite Top Harbor, who stalked the pace early in the race and had come out of the pack to challenge Evenerevenworse for the win. In the final sixteenth of a mile, Evenerevenworse grittily fended off Top Harbor’s challenge and hit the wire a neck in front of the runner up finisher. Evenerevenworse stopped the clock for five furlongs on firm turf in a crisp 56.57 seconds. Jockey Evin Roman was aboard for the winning ride; with the victory, Roman picked up his fourth win on the Saturday card.
Evenerevenworse paid $16.00 to win, $5.80 to place, and $3.80 to show. Runner up Top Harbor returned $3.00 to place and $2.40 to show while third place finisher Psycho Dar paid $3.20 to show. Rager finished in fourth followed by My Summer Dream, Larry’s Legend, Lexington Humor, and Honeymoonz Over.
5-year-old bay gelding Evenerevenworse was bred in California by Pat Maciariello. The son of Decarchy is trained by Bill McLean, who also conditioned I’mgonnabesomebody to victory in the All American Stakes last month. Evenerevenworse is owned by the partnership group of TKO Stables, Frank Ables, and Fred Desimone and has earned $148,000 from 29 starts with 7 wins, 4 seconds and 8 third place finishes. In the Albany, he picked up a $39,500 check which includes a $9,500 California-bred bonus.
Live racing resumes on Sunday with a 10-race card. Sunday is Closing Day of the 2023 Winter/Spring Meeting at Golden Gate. Mandatory payouts will be in play on Sunday in the Golden Pick Six wager (Races 5-10), Both Pick 5’s (Races 1-5 and Races 6-10), and the Rolling High Five wager in Race 10. The Golden Pick Six has a carryover of $45,305 heading into mandatory payout Sunday. First post is 1:15 PM PT.
