Cast Member goes from understudy to leading role in Golden State Juvenile Fillies

ARCADIA, Calif. - Cast Member inherited the role of favorite in Saturday’s $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita after Chismosa reared and fell in the saddling enclosure.

In the seven-furlong race for California-bred 2-year-old fillies, Cast Member inherited the lead in the final furlong, utilizing a stretch-long rally to win by a length.

Ridden by Ramon Vazquez, Cast Member ($5.20) was third on the backstretch and second on the turn before passing pacesetter Fun Money.

Cast Member was timed in 1:24.78 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 66.

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“I knew I had good position,” Vazquez said. “I was waiting for the last three-sixteenths.

“I had a lot of horse. More distance is better for her.”

Cholly (10-1) closed well on the inside to finish second, a head in front of 7-1 Fun Money.

Sell the Dream and Big Celebration completed the order of finish in the small field.

Chismosa, unbeaten in three starts, including two stakes for statebred fillies at Del Mar in the summer, was not injured in the incident in the saddling enclosure. She was 6-5 at the time she was scratched.

Cast Member, by Munnings, races for owner and breeder George Krikorian and trainer Tim Yakteen.

Cast Member is unbeaten in two starts, having won a maiden race at six furlongs for statebred fillies by three lengths at Del Mar on Sept. 3. Cast Member has earned $153,000.

Golden State Juvenile

The $176,000 Golden State Juvenile appeared over when 3-10 Giver Not a Taker passed the eighth pole with a two-length lead. It was about that time that jockey Umberto Rispoli realized Passarando was building momentum.

In his first start at Santa Anita, Passarando rallied in deep stretch to win Saturday’s Golden State Juvenile by a length over Giver Not a Taker.

“He responded well,” Rispoli said. “It was good acceleration for him.”

Passarando ($24.40) ran seven furlongs in 1:24.18, closing from fifth in a field of seven. Passarando earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 73.

Midnight Lightning set an early pace of 22.49 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.77 for a half-mile. Giver Not a Taker, ridden by Jose Valdivia Jr., was four wide on the turn and looked to be clear before Passarando closed the gap.

Giver Not a Taker finished 4 1/4 lengths in front of 6-1 Mystic Flyer, who was followed by Merit Song, Ship and Scam, Golf Drama, and Midnight Lightning.

Passarando, a gelding by Tamarando, races for owner and breeders Larry and Marianne Williams and trainer Steve Specht.

A winner of 3 of 5 starts and $160,830, Passarando’s previous two wins were at Golden Gate Fields - a maiden race in his second career start in May and an allowance race in his fourth start at September.

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