DEL MAR, Calif.— The first 2-year-old stakes race of the Del Mar season, the California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, will be run Sunday. Eight Cal-breds will line up for the five and half furlong event.
The scratch of the likely favorite turned the CTBA into a wide-open affair. Trainer Doug O’Neill choosing to wait and run Absolute Zero, in the G2 Sorrento next weekend.
“I think another week will do her good,” O’Neill said. “It’s a $200,000 grade two. I just think that’s a better opportunity for her.”
Horse for the course players will like Jaime Renella’s Chismosa in the CTBA. A daughter of Clubhouse Ride, she broke her maiden during opening week at Del Mar. The Rafael DeLeon trainee was hard to load, broke slowly and pulled jockey Kyle Frey around the track and into the winner’s circle.
Trainer Walther Solis has Terry Lovingier or Griffin Stables’ E Z Pharis running in the CTBA. A daughter of American Pharoah, she broke her maiden first out and then finished third in the Fasig Tipton Debutante.
“She’s been training really good,” Solis says, “and I believe the five and a half will help us. She’s the kind of filly who takes a little while to get her feet under her.”
Tyler Baze rides. Solis scratched his other entry, Lov U Mean It after she developed heat in her knees.
There are three Northern California invaders. Berger or Valenzuela’s Fumano’s Girl won at first asking at Golden Gate Fields and then missed by a nose against the boys in the $75,000 Everett Nevin at Pleasanton. Trained by Bill McLean, she’ll be ridden by Hector Berrios.
Phil Lebherz’s Smiling Lady, a daughter of Smiling Tiger, comes in off of a maiden win at Pleasanton. Florent Geroux gets the mount for trainer Andy Mathis. LNJ’S Foxwood’s Electric Lettuce broke her maiden at Golden Gate Fields by four lengths before finishing fifth in the Everett Nevin.
The CTBA goes off as the 10th race on an 11-race program Sunday.
DMTC Press Release
Photo: Del Mar gate (Benoit Photo)
