Bonde has CTBA threat in Sharoana

DEL MAR, Calif. - Not many fillies win their first stakes against males the way that Sharoana did in the Everett Nevin Alameda County Futurity at Pleasanton on July 2.

Not many stables win consecutive runnings of a Del Mar stakes the way Jeff Bonde did in the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes in 2004 and 2005.

Friday, Bonde will try for a hat trick in the CTBA Stakes with Sharoana, the lone stakes winner in a field of eight 2-year-old statebred fillies. Bonde feels that Sharoana fits in the CTBA Stakes as well as his previous two winners - Sterling Cat in 2004 and Devons Smokin in 2005.

"She's got quite a bit of fight in her," Bonde said. "She's been a good honest horse the whole way."

Sharoana drew the outside post in the CTBA Stakes, which is run at 5 1/2 furlongs. She has the speed to be a factor early. Sharoana has won 2 of 4 starts and $69,470.

After beating maidens in her second start, she finished second in the Cinderella Stakes at Hollywood Park in May before winning the Alameda Futurity by two lengths.

, who was third in the Landaluce Stakes at Hollywood Park on July 1; Prenuptial, the winner of a maiden race at Hollywood Park on June 12; and the impressive maiden race winners A.V. Flynn and Ces't Mark.

won a $25,000 claiming race for maidens by 13 lengths at Pleasanton on June 28 in her debut. Trained by Steve Miyadi, A.V. Flynn has the speed to be a factor early.

Ces't Mark has speed, but is not as quick as A.V. Flynn. Ces't Mark has not started since beating statebred maiden fillies by 8 1/4 lengths at Hollywood Park on June 4.

Swiss Rose would benefit from a quick pace. She closed from fifth to finish third in the Landaluce Stakes at six furlongs on July 1. The shorter distance of the CTBA Stakes concerns her trainer, Mike Harrington.

"I'd like it better if it was longer," Harrington said.

Prenuptial will be making the quickest turnaround, returning in nine days. She won by 1 1/4 lengths but failed to switch leads in the stretch, a concern for trainer Ben Cecil

"It's a bit quick back, but she's pretty tough," Cecil said. "She didn't switch leads, but I think she might not have liked the track at Hollywood Park. This is more like the track at Santa Anita, and she likes that track."