Del Mar: Tilde proves versatile in win

Benoit & Associates

Trainer Mike Harrington enjoys a moment with Tilde.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Tilde swept the two stakes for California-bred 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar this summer, showing a different style in winning Wednesday’s $150,000 Generous Portion Stakes over six furlongs.

In the CTBA Stakes over 5 1/2 furlongs on July 20, Tilde led throughout. In the Generous Portion, she was third early, took the lead in early stretch and won by three-quarters of a length over 19-1 Awe’ Some Kitten.

Tilde ran six furlongs in 1:11.42. She has won 3 of 4 starts and $195,060.

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Sent off favored, Tilde ($5.20) was ridden by Rafael Bejarano, who got his 11th stakes win of the meeting. Through Wednesday, Bejarano was one away from equaling the record of 12 stakes wins in a single meeting shared by Laffit Pincay, Jr. (1976), Chris McCarron (1995), Gary Stevens (1997), and Corey Nakatani (1998). The season ends on Wednesday.

The style of Tilde’s win left owner-trainer Mike Harrington willing to try the filly around two turns. Her next likely start is the $250,000 California Cup Juvenile Fillies over 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Oct. 13.

“The last two races she’s pulled away down the lane and kind of impressed me,” Harrington said. “Who knows if she’ll want to run that far, but she might.”