Cavalieri remains unbeaten with La Canada victory
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ARCADIA, Calif. – Cavalieri won her stakes debut by a convincing 1 1/2 lengths in Sunday’s Grade 3 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita to join the list of California’s leading older fillies and mares.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Cavalieri ($4) was always near the front and fought off a threat from 8-5 Alpha Bella in the final furlong to remain unbeaten after three starts.
Cavalieri tracked pacesetter Chatalas to early stretch before taking a narrow lead. Hernandez said Cavalieri needed competition to sustain her advantage.
“I had a nice break and I was in a good spot,” Hernandez said. “Turning for home, I thought she was waiting for company. When the other filly came to her, she was a warrior and she came back on.”
Alpha Bella, who stumbled slightly at the start, closed from fifth in a field of six to reach a prominent position in early stretch. Jockey Flavien Prat acknowledged Alpha Bella’s troubled start, but said it did not affect the rest of the race.
“I had a good trip and I think I had every chance to go by them,” Prat said.
Alpha Bella finished 4 3/4 lengths clear of 19-1 Big Hug, who was followed by Chatalas, Che Evasora, and Musical Mischief.
Cavalieri ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.15.
Owned by Speedway Stables and trained by Bob Baffert, Cavalieri won her debut in a maiden race at a mile at Del Mar on Aug. 29, and her first start against winners in an allowance race at a mile at Santa Anita on Oct. 12. By Nyquist, Cavalieri was withdrawn from the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes at seven furlongs for 3-year-old fillies on Dec. 26 because of an elevated temperature.
In Sunday’s $100,500 La Canada Stakes, Cavalieri delivered a performance that leaves her as a candidate for the Grade 1 Beholder Mile, a $300,000 race for fillies and mares on March 8.
“This is a big step up for her,” Baffert said. “I think she’ll improve off of this.”
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