Swiss Wild Cat, piloted by jockey Christian Santiago Reyes,
outran stablemate Hi Ho Yodeler in the final sixteenth to win the featured
$100,000 California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes for
California-bred two-year-old fillies today.
Swiss Wild Cat, owned by Heinz Steinman, reached the wire a
half-length in front of Hi Ho Yodeler, giving trainer Mike Harrington a one-two
sweep in the 5 1/2 furlong sprint. Longshot Rockin Heather held on well to be
third, with Miss Reditore fourth in the field of eight.
Early scratches
were Cayanna and Seethe Girlgo An incident in the starting gate resulted in the
late scratches of
Cookinthisorthat, who flipped in the gate, and Vonn Nez, who was in an
adjacent stall. Stewards reported that Cookinthisorthat sustained a minor
laceration to a foreleg. Neither David Flores, on Cookinthisorthat, nor Joe
Talamo, aboard Vonn Nez, was injured.
Swiss Wild Cat, a daughter of Ministers Wild Cat, ran the
distance in 1:04.15 and returned $9.80, $4.80 and $2.80 while earning first
prize of $60,000 after her second
triumph in five starts. Hi Ho Yodeler paid $4.60 and $3.60, while Rockin
Heather paid $6 to show.
Swiss Wild Cat
provided Reyes, the 2009 Eclipse Award winner as America's top apprentice, with
his first Del Mar stakes success. The native of Puerto Rico became a journeyman
jockey in May.