Cash Call with Juan Hernandez up. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.—Making her stakes debut and first start around two turns, Cash Call outbattled stablemate Howin in the stretch to win the Grade III, $100,000 Summertime Oaks going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita.
With Juan Hernandez aboard for trainer Bob Baffert, Cash Call (1-2) settled just off the pace while racing outside in the clear as Howin (9-2) went to the lead and set fractions of 23.50, 47.54 and 1:11.63 for six furlongs. Cash Call ranged up to her stablemate near the quarter pole, took a slight lead at the top of the stretch and then outran a stubborn Howin to the wire to win by three-quarters of a length. It was another four lengths back to Our Moonlight, the 5-2 second choice, in third.
Cash Call won in a time of 1:43.62 on a fast track. In her previous start, she romped by five lengths in a first-level allowance going six furlongs May 18 at Santa Anita. Cash Call is now a perfect 3-for-3 as a 3-year-old after dropping her first two starts as a two-year-old.
“At the barn they’ve always liked this filly,” Hernandez said. “I think she just wasn’t ready in her first couple of races. But now that’s she a little older, she’s getting better.
“She showed a lot of heart and talent today. She broke sharp. I was in a good spot; she was happy on the outside. She relaxed beautifully and was traveling so well. She was in a good rhythm waiting for me to shake the reins. When I did, she picked it up and hit the wire first.”
By McKinzie, Cash Call improved to 5:3-1-1 with $154,080 in earnings for owner CSLR Racing Partners. She was purchased for $600,000 at last year’s OBS April Sale of 2-year-olds in training.
“It has been a blast,” said Bill Childs of CSRL Racing Partners. “She has improved every race. It’s been wonderful.”
Cash Call paid $3.00, $2.20 and $2.10. Howin, ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, returned $3.20 and $2.10. Our Moonlight, with Tiago Pereira up for trainer Dean Pederson, paid $2.10.
Live racing resumes Sunday at Santa Anita with a 10-race card starting at 1 p.m. PT.
Grade III, $100,000 Summertime Oaks Stakes Quotes
Juan Hernandez, Cash Call, Winner: “At the barn they’ve always liked this filly. I think she just wasn’t ready in her first couple of races. But now that’s she a little older, she’s getting better. I felt underneath me in her last couple races that she wanted to go long. Mr. Baffert tried it today and it worked out well. This filly was ready. She showed a lot of heart and talent today. She broke sharp. I was in a good spot. She was happy on the outside. She relaxed beautifully and was traveling so well. She was in a good rhythm just waiting for me to shake the reins and when I did, she picked it up and hit the wire first.”
Bill Childs, Cash Call, Winner: “It has been a blast, she has improved every race. It has been wonderful.”
