Cal-breds Continue to Sizzle in Weekend Stakes Action
June 2, 1999 Cal-breds lead the way in Southern and Northern California
GOURMET GIRL Milady Breeders’ Cup Handicap (Hol)
Gary Tanaka’s Del Mar yearling sale graduate Gourmet Girl earned her first ever Grade I victory yesterday in the Milady Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Hollywood Park. The 4-year-old daughter of Cee’s Tizzy—Rhondaling (GB), by Welsh Pageant tracked early pacesetter Yolo Lady around the first turn. She moved up to engage for the lead shortly thereafter and increased her advantage through the lane, crossing the wire two lengths in front of Yolo Lady. Gourmet Girl covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:40 4/5.
"We wanted to be outside, but we were stuck down inside," said winning jockey Eddie Delahoussaye. "She didn’t seem to mind at all. She ran like she didn’t have a care. She’s a nice filly. It’s a pleasure to ride her."
The Milady was Gourmet Girl’s second victory for Tanaka since he purchased the Cal-bred privately for a reported $1 million four months ago. Carl and Olivia Cannata, owners of Lakeview Thoroughbred Farm, bred Gourmet Girl who is conditioned by Pico Perdomo.
"I’m really happy to have a Grade I next to her name now," said Perdomo, who selected her out of the Del Mar yearling sale. "She just keeps getting better all the time. Good horses like this make trainers like me look good."
LOVE THAT RED, Laz Barrera Memorial Stakes (Hol)
Love That Red, the only Cal-bred in the Laz Barrera Memorial Stakes contested Monday at Hollywood Park, made short work of his three rivals. The odds-on favorite, Apremont, set a scorching pace on the front end, while Garrett Gomez and Love That Red were content racing in last. As the field bunched around the far turn, Love That Red tucked in behind runners appearing full of run. Gomez then angled his mount to the inside, slipped through an opening and shot clear late with an impressive turn of foot when called upon. He defeated Apremont comfortably by three lengths, getting the seven furlong distance in 1:20 4/5.
Owned and bred by Terry Wells, Love That Red is a 3-year-old gelded son of Highland Park. Trainer Leonard Duncan conditions Love That Red.
INCITATUS, California Sire Stakes (GG)
Monday’s California Sire Stakes at Golden Gate Fields featured a competitive field of eight Cal-bred runners traveling one mile on the turf. Walk that Walk, once considered a possible Belmont Stakes starter, was sent off as the post time favorite. And although Walk that Walk put in an honest effort, it was Incitatus who came away with the top prize.
Ridden by Rafael Meza for trainer Steve Spect and owners Robert Walter’s Family Trust, Incitatus overcame some trouble at the top of the stretch to sneak through an opening along the inside in midstretch to post a convincing victory. Walk that Walk finished second and Radar Contact edged longshot Solarino for third. Incitatus now boasts two victories from five career starts with earnings approaching $100,000.
Incitatus is a 3-year-old son of Batonnier—Silken Light. Walk that Walk, owned by Ron Manzani, Russell Sarno and Damon Stathatos, is a son of Skywalker—Turkish Gipsy. While Radar Contact is a Harris Farms homebred son of Flying Continental—Talk Faster.
RED SKY’S, California Derby (GG)
Mr. and Mrs. Barton D. Heller won the weekend’s California Derby at Golden Gate Fields by two lengths from Mula Gula. Red Sky’s is a 3-year-old son of Skywalker—Beautiful Redhead, by Flying Paster. The Jeff Bonde trainee has now won two of five career starts and has bankrolled $164,453. In his last start prior to the California Derby, Red Sky’s was an ultra game second to Cliquot in the Snow Chief Stakes at Hollywood Park.
BUDROYALE, 2nd to Old Trieste in Californian (Hol)
In another game effort, Budroyale finished second to the classy and fast Old Trieste in Saturday’s Californian at Hollywood Park. The hard-knocking Cal-bred raced just off the pace set by Old Trieste the entire journey, but proved no match for the winner in deep stretch. Budroyale did manage to hold race favorite and Donn Handicap winner Puerto Madero at bay, though, to secure second place.
Old Trieste’s winning time of 1:46 2/5 was only ticks off of Spectacular Bid’s stakes record of 1:45 4/5 set back in 1980.
"It was phenomenal," said Budroyale’s rider Garrett Gomez. "I mean my horse ran a phenomenal race. His legs just could not go as fast as that other horse."
Owner Jeffrey Sengara was also excited about the race.
"This horse just means so much to me and my family," he said. "We originally weren't pointing for this race, but ‘Bud’ told us he was ready. He has been feeling so good that we thought we’d give him a shot in here. He’s an amazing race horse."
MEN’S EXCLUSIVE, 2nd to Son of a Pistol in Los Angeles H. (Hol)
Gene Reed’s veteran sprinter Men’s Exclusive nearly captured the Los Angeles Handicap over the weekend at Hollywood Park, but was run down late by another veteran of the sprinting wars Son of a Pistol. Men’s Exclusive shrugged off numerous challenges in the Los Angeles, but could not fend off Son of a Pistol right on the wire. Trained by Wesley Ward, Men’s Exclusive is a son of Exclusive Ribot. Men’s Exclusive was seeking to join the great Native Diver as the only two-time winner of the Los Angeles Handicap.
