Ramon Vazquez give Big Pond a big pat after their victory. (Benoit Photo)
Del Mar Press Release
DEL MAR, Calif.—George Krikorian’s homebred Big Pond fired through the lane Thursday at Del Mar and came away a one-length winner of the 38th edition of the Fleet Treat Stakes for 3-year-old Cal-bred fillies.
The daughter of Mr. Big ran seven furlongs in 1:23.37 under Ramon Vazquez to pick up a first prize of $99,750 from the gross purse of $175,000. It was her second win in only her second start and increased her earnings to $136,350.
Finishing second in the dash was Jaime Renella’s Chismosa, who had a length and a quarter on Cady, Kasparoff or Leatherman, et al’s Ceiling Crusher, who went off as the stout 3-10 favorite.
Big Pond paid $9.80 to win and $5.80 to place. Second-place finisher Chismosa paid $5.20 to place. All three of the runners paid $2.10 to show.
Six horses ran in the Fleet Treat, which was shortened when Tom’s Regret scratched earlier in the day.
Racing resumes at Del Mar tomorrow with the track’s first 4 p.m. Friday post.
Stakes Quotes
Jockeys
RAMON VAZQUEZ (Big Pond, winner) – “No, no special instructions for me. I know this filly. I rode her for her first win at Santa Anita last month. She broke well, then on the turn when I asked her she finished up nicely. And the more distance the better for her. I’m sure of that.”
JUAN HERNANDEZ (Ceiling Crusher, third) – “I missed the break. She got bumped away from there. But no excuses. She just didn’t do her thing today.”
Trainers
TIM YAKTEEN (Big Pond, winner) – “I liked the way the race set up for us. We had a good draw. She has always shown us some promise in the mornings. She was gifted as a 2-year-old and we had to give her a break but his was a big step up for her taking on the likes of Chismosa and Ceiling Crusher and she showed up today.”
LEANDRO MORA (Assistant to trainer Doug O’Neill, Ceiling Crusher, third) – “She’s fine. There was a lot of bumping and that’s how horse who like to win by many lengths get beat. She was boxed in for a long, long time and it’s the first time she’s ever had dirt in her face. It’s a good lesson.”
