Cause to Believe flies home in Cavonnier

SANTA ROSA, Calif. - Cause to Believe ($2.80), who seemed beaten as he faded on the turn, unleashed a scintillating late rally to win the Cavonnier Juvenile Stakes on Sunday at the Sonoma County Fair.

Cause to Believe was fourth trailing by four at the eighth pole and won the race by two lengths over Fast Parade, winning the 5+-furlong (five one-half) race in 1:03.76 while running his final 16th in 5.70 seconds.

"I thought he was falling out of it, but, at the head of the lane, I could tell he had a chance and by the 16th, I thought he'd win," winning trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.

Jockey Russell Baze, celebrating his 47th birthday, had the colt a little closer to the lead after breaking sharply. He said he was concerned as the colt dropped back midway around the turn, uncomfortable with dirt hitting him in the face and by the pressure of Hunter's Fortune going by outside him.

"I looked back, and there was nobody out there so I took him out in the lane and hit him left-handed and he took off lickety-split," Baze said. "He was running faster the first part into the lane. I switched sticks, but he didn't like being hit right-handed. I didn't have time to switch sticks so I just let him go. At that point he had the momentum anyway."

Cause to Believe unleashed a similar kick when second in the Malcolm Anderson in his previous start.

The colt now has two wins and two seconds in four starts. He earned $27,600 Sunday to boost his career earnings to $62,475.