Catalina Red wins maiden in stakes-record time in Inaugural

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Catalina Red came into Saturday’s $100,000 Inaugural Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs winless in three career starts but looked like anything but a maiden after blowing past the leaders turning for home in the six-furlong co-feature and drawing off with a flourish to post an impressive one-length victory over eight 2-year-old rivals.

Trained by Chad Stewart and confidently ridden by Daniel Centeno, Catalina Red ($7.40) broke next to last but quickly shot up the inside to stalk a pace duel between longshot Reid the News and Charlie’s Brother that accounted for a quarter of 22.33 seconds and half of 45.71. Leaving the turn, Centeno swung Catalina Red three wide and he quickly swept past the leaders and then through the stretch the Munnings colt kicked into overdrive, drawing off smartly to the finish. The final time of 1:09.32 was a stakes record.

Charlie’s Brother saved the place over Duke of Luke with Got Winged, who was squeezed back at the break, along for fourth after racing wide much of the trip.

In the $100,000 Sandpiper Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, R Sassy Lass ($8.60), making her first start since winning her maiden in September, ran down Coco's Wildcat to prevail by a half-length. Ridden by Antonio Gallardo for trainer Kirk Ziadie, R Sassy Lass ran six furlongs in 1:10.48.