Cast Member has no problem with Soviet Problem Stakes

CYPRESS, Calif. - The only difficulty jockey Ramon Vazquez encountered aboard Cast Member in Sunday’s $100,000 Soviet Problem Stakes at Los Alamitos was returning to the winner’s circle with a bit of dirt in his throat.

Sent off as a heavy favorite, Cast Member ($3.40) closed from fourth in a field of five to win the one-mile stakes for California-bred 2-year-old fillies by 1 1/4 lengths over 9-2 Grazed My Heart.

Cast Member is unbeaten in three starts and has earned $213,000.

Cocktail Princess set an early pace of 23.32 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.20 seconds, with Cast Member following by 2 1/2 lengths.

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Cast Member took the lead early in the stretch, which is slightly longer than a quarter-mile, and led by a length with a furlong remaining.

Despite a few coughs while walking to the jockey’s room, Vazquez said his best option as the race unfolded was to keep Cast Member in a tracking position.

“I didn’t want to move my filly early,” Vazquez said. “It’s a long stretch. I wanted to save her.”

Grazed My Heart made a brief move in the stretch on the inside, but could not keep pace with Cast Member, who was timed in 1:38.26 on a sealed and wet-fast track. Cast Member earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 64.

“She was waiting for the competition,” Vazquez said. “When she felt that other horse on the inside, she finished well.”

Cocktail Princess (6-1) finished third, followed by Big Celebration and Loyal to a Fault in the field of five.

Cocktail Princess earned $12,000 for finishing third, gaining nearly half of the $25,000 supplemental fee paid to make her eligible for the race. The hefty fee makes Cocktail Princess eligible for all stakes for California-breds through her career.

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

Cast Member has raced against statebred fillies in her three starts. She won a maiden special weight race at six furlongs at Del Mar on Sept. 3 and the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Oct. 29.

Yakteen said after the Soviet Problem Stakes that Cast Member will be considered for the $200,000 California Cup Oaks at a mile on turf for 3-year-old California-bred fillies at Santa Anita on Jan. 7.

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