C D Cool just catches Little Lolitta

CALGARY, Alberta - Jockeys Ron Blinston and Stephan Heiler had plenty of time to reflect on what might have been while awaiting the result of the photo following last Saturday's Lilac Handicap.

Blinston made a good decision aboard Little Lolitta by taking back off the rapid fractions of 22 and 46 seconds set by the favored Brighton Belle.

When Brighton Belle stopped midway down the backstretch, Blinston found himself alone in front and turned for home with a clear advantage.

"My filly broke very sharply," said Blinston, who ultimately may have been compromised by that alert beginning, as Little Lolitta argued with Brighton Belle early before her rider eased her back through the second turn in the one-mile feature.

Heiler, meanwhile, had C D Cool in sixth place along the rail with three furlongs left and had plenty of horse beneath him.

"I didn't even ask her, and she was starting to roll," said Heiler, who found himself in tight quarters midway down the backstretch and was forced to check his mount before finally finding running room on the final turn.

C D Cool did get a clean run along the inside turning for home, but by this time Blinston and Little Lolitta looked to be home and cooled out.

Heiler took up the chase in earnest in midstretch, and C D Cool was up in the final stride under right-handed encouragement to dead-heat with Little Lolitta in a final time of 1:39.60.

The two should meet again in the 1 1/16-mile Penny Ridge, a $40,000 handicap for fillies and mares on closing day, June 17.