Tag: carla gaines
Sensible Cat Pounces On California-Bred Foes In Soviet Problem
Sensible Cat provided trainer Carla Gaines with her first stakes win at Los Alamitos with a come-from-behind victory in the $100,000 Soviet Problem Stakes on Saturday.
A little more than five weeks after breaking her maiden at eight furlongs on the Del Mar turf course in her second career start, the 2-year-old daughter of Bluegrass Cat demonstrated Saturday she is equally adept on dirt at the Cypress, Calif., track.
Owned by Irvin Racing Stable and ridden by Juan Hernandez, Sensible Cat, the 9-2 fourth choice in the field of 10 California bred or sired fillies, was reserved off the early pace, rallied outside in the stretch, collared 5-2 favorite Dylans Wild Cat inside the eighth pole and went on to score by 1 ¾ lengths.
Out of the Street Sense mare Sensible Girl, Sensible Cat completed the mile in 1:37.94. She paid $11, $6.20 and $3.60 while increasing her earnings to $89,700.
“I thought it was tremendous,'' said Gaines. “We thought right away she was going to be a horse that wanted two turns. She had some mucus and was coughing this summer at Del Mar, so we missed getting her in a long race there, so we sprinted her once (a sixth-place finish Sept. 7) to get her some experience.
“We couldn't wait to get her going two turns and she responded (a turf victory Nov. 6 at Del Mar). It's nice to know we have the option of grass or dirt with her.''
The stakes success was the second in a span of six days for Hernandez, who used similar off-the-pace tactics to win the Grade 3 Bayakoa with Proud Emma Dec. 6.
“(Gaines) had me watch the replay of her last race and said to ride her that way,'' said Hernandez, the leading rider through the first six days of the meet with eight victories. “She broke well and I wanted to sit off the leaders.
“I wasn't sure if she was going to go by early in the stretch, but when I switched and hit her left-handed, she really responded.''
Governor Goteven, the second choice at 3-1, outfinished Dylans Wild Cat by a half-length for the place. She paid $5.00 and $3.60 while the show price on Dylans Wild Cat was $2.80.
I'm So Anna, Super Game, pacesetter Mucha Woman, Will Take a Kiss, Miss Glorious, Westward Breeze and Love Wins completed the order of finish.
Racing resumes Sunday at Los Alamitos. Post time is 12:30 p.m. Pacific.
The post Sensible Cat Pounces On California-Bred Foes In Soviet Problem appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
‘Godspeed Old Friend’: Grade 1 Winner Bolo Retired From Racing
Trainer Carla Gaines announced via Twitter on Tuesday that the 8-year-old gelding Bolo, winner of the G1 Shoemaker Mile in 2019, will be retired from racing. The son of Temple City finished off the board in his two starts this year, and will retire with an overall record of 6-1-4 from 23 starts for earnings of $978,572.
“It is with pride, joy, and a heavy heart that we have decided its time for G1W Bolo to retire from racing,” Gaines wrote. “He is happy, healthy and sound, he just doesn't seem interested in racing anymore. Now eight, he's been a part of our barn since he was two, his absence is going leave a huge void, both his talent and larger than life personality. He took me to my first Kentucky Derby, then back to back Arcadia wins, G1 Shoemaker Mile at the age of seven… the memories are endless. Thank you to Bolo, to his owners, our staff, jockeys, all who contributed to his prolonged success. Godspeed old friend.”
Gaines' post indicated that options for a second career are under consideration for Bolo, but nothing has been decided at this time.
It is with pride, joy & a heavy heart, that we've decided it's time for G1W Bolo to retire from racing. Thank you to all who have contributed to his prolonged success. Second career plans for him are being considered, but undecided at this point. #Bolo #OneOfAKind pic.twitter.com/kFtM5GbyMe
— Carla Gaines Racing (@cgainesracing) July 21, 2020
The post ‘Godspeed Old Friend’: Grade 1 Winner Bolo Retired From Racing appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Tiger Dad Outfoots Rivals, Including Favored Stablemate, In Thor’s Echo At Santa Anita
With most of the attention focused on last year's winner, trainer Carla Gaines' “Avis choice,” consistent Tiger Dad, set the tone early as he battled head and head for the lead with a well-meant Principe Carlo, eventually gaining the ascendency in deep stretch as he drew off to win Saturday's $100,000 Thor's Echo Stakes by three quarters of length at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.
Ridden by regular pilot Victor Espinoza, Tiger Dad, a 4-year-old California-bred gelding by Smiling Tiger, got six furlongs in 1:09.56 while never threatened by his well fancied stablemate Desert Law, who checked in third as the even money favorite.
“I have been riding him quite a few times (his last eight races), so I really have the confidence in him. When some other horse is outside, it is exactly what he wants because he won't let them go by. I didn't want to take the lead too soon because he has a bad habit of waiting for horses, so today I was just hoping the outside horse (Principe Carlo) would keep going and keep me company all the way to the wire and it worked out perfectly.”
Most recently second to highly regarded Collusion Illusion in a six-furlong allowance here on May 17, Tiger Dad was the third choice at 5-2 in a field of five California-bred or sired three year olds and up and paid $7.60, $3.80 and $2.20.
“He ran fantastic,” said Gaines. “He really dug in and Victor knows him so well. As I said pre-race, my other horse (Desert Law) needs a race off of a layoff. He got a little far back.”
Owned by his breeders, Mark Devereaux and Scott Gross, Tiger Dad, who had been out of the money in just two of his previous 14 starts, notched his first stakes victory and improved his overall mark to 15-4-5-3. Out of the Unusual Heat mare Q T Shae, Tiger Dad bagged $60,000 for the win, increasing his earnings to $276,661.
Breaking from the far outside with Agapito Delgadillo up for trainer Ryan Hanson, Principe Carlo, who was claimed two starts back for $20,000, battled gamely throughout and finished 1 ¼ in front of Desert Law. A winner of his last two starts, Principe Carlo was the narrow second choice at 5-2 and paid $3.60 and $2.20.
Ridden by Flavien Prat, Desert Law, who had been idle since running second in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar on July 27, paid $2.10 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.33, 45.06 and 57.09.
Sponsored by the CTBA, the Thor's Echo, for 3-year-olds and up, is part of the lucrative Golden State Series for California-bred or sired horses.
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