Caracortado, a Grade 2 winner on Santa Anita's synthetic track last
winter, proved equally at home on the lawn when he outlasted The Usual
Q. T. to capture the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Turf by a half-length
Jan. 29.
This was the turf stakes debut for Caracortado, was bred in California
by Michael Machowsky, who also trains the gelding and owns him as part
of Lo Hi Racing with Donald Blahut's Blahut Racing. The 4-year-old son
of Cat Dream won an optional claiming allowance on at Hollywood in his
only prior try on grass Nov. 11.
Joe Talamo drove Caracortado to victory at 3-1 odds with a stalking trip
on the outside. Coming three wide around the far turn, Caracortado
reached even terms with the Usual Q. T. leaving the eighth pole and
gained a narrow advantage in deep stretch.
"He's a freak on turf and has such a tremendous turn of foot," Talamo said. "He just explodes that last eighth."
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