John M. Liviakis’ Mighty Caroline, second choice in the betting at
4-1 under jockey Joel Rosario, forged to the front in the upper stretch
and went on to a convincing victory Friday in the featured $150,000
Sorrento Stakes for two-year-old fillies.
Mighty Caroline, beaten narrowly by Killer Graces, the even-money
favorite Friday, in Hollywood Park’s Landaluce Stakes last month,
stalked pacesetting longshot River Kiss until the top of the stretch
where she took the lead and ran strongly to the wire to win by 1 ¼
lengths in 1:16.75 for the 6 ½ furlongs over Del Mar’s Polytrack.
River Kiss held on well to be second, a head in front of Heleonor
Rugby, victress in the C.T.B.A. Stakes who closed steadily to be third, a
half-length in front of Willa B Awesome in the field of seven fillies.
Killer Graces stumbled badly at the break and failed to threaten, finishing sixth.
Mighty Caroline, a daughter of Stormy Atlantic trained by Melody
Conlon, earned $90,000 with her second win in three starts. She returned
$10, $5.20 and $3.60. Heleonor Rugby paid $8.80 and $4.40, while River
Kiss returned $3.60 to show.