Caitlin Fever shows strong works for her debut

There could be an outbreak of Caitlin Fever at Los Alamitos late Sunday afternoon.

A 2-year-old filly named in honor of the popular basketball star Caitlin Clark, Caitlin Fever will make her debut in a maiden race at five furlongs, the last of eight races.

Owned by Wire to Wire Stables, Gary Barber, and Jeff Fink, Caitlin Fever has had a steady pattern of works at the San Luis Rey Downs training center since mid-May for trainer Peter Miller.

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“She’s been good from day one,” Miller said. “She has a very positive attitude and acts like she can run.”

In her last two workouts, Caitlin Fever worked a half-mile from the gate in 48 seconds on June 15 and five furlongs in 59.40 on June 21.

“She did it well and within herself,” Miller said. “She galloped out strong in both works. She seems to have quite a bit of run to her.”

Caitlin Fever is by the first-year stallion Caracaro, the sire of West Memorial, winner of the Kentucky Juvenile on May 2 at Churchill Downs. Caitlin Fever was purchased for $52,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. sale of 2-year-olds in training in March.

Caitlin Fever is part of a field of nine and starts from post 2. Diego Herrera has the mount.

There will be support for two fillies with race experience – She’s My Flame and What About Q.

She’s My Flame, trained by Steve Knapp, was fifth in her debut in a five-furlong maiden race on turf May 31, and a well-beaten second to Nooni in a maiden race at five furlongs on dirt June 13.

What About Q finished third by 2 3/4 lengths in front of She’s My Flame in her debut for trainer Doug O’Neill on May 31.

“Her debut was solid and I’m optimistic she’ll move forward,” O’Neill wrote in a text message Friday. “She’s trained well since and before her debut.”

The race has six first-time starters, including the six-figure yearling purchases A. Z. Wildcat for $200,000, Mona Again for $175,000, and Power Connection for $150,000.

A. Z. Wildcat, by Munnings, has worked quickly at Santa Anita for trainer John Sadler this month, including a half-mile from the gate in 48.40 seconds on Monday. Hector Berrios has the mount.

Mona Again, who starts from the inside post for trainer Michael McCarthy, is by the first-year stallion Global Campaign, who won with two of his first eight runners so far this year through Thursday. Mona Again worked five furlongs in 1:01.60 from the gate on June 15 at Santa Anita.

Power Connection, trained by Todd Fincher, worked at Sunland Park and Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico until she was recently moved to San Luis Rey Downs. Fincher said he was impressed by Power Connection’s half-mile workout from the gate in 49.60 on May 26 at Ruidoso.

“The Ruidoso track is slow,” he said. “If you broke 50 back then, it was a good work.

“She’s a nice filly. She’s got natural speed, but she’s not fast fast.”

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