Code Warrior defeats males in Golden Nugget

Code Warrior, a filly who won her career debut by seven lengths, pulled away from Algenon in the stretch as she defeated males in her second start, winning the $52,255 Golden Nugget Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

“This was Plan B,” said trainer Manny Badilla. “Plan A was an allowance race that didn’t fill. This was the timing we needed because it’s three weeks from the Golden Gate Debutante.”

Winning jockey Anne Sanguinetti got Code Warrior ($5.60), who made her debut Aug. 28, to settle nicely in second behind multiple stakes-placed Algenon, who bobbled slightly at the break but quickly bounded to the front.

Sanguinetti, who helped pick out Code Warrior at an April sale this year, was concerned that Algenon seemed to be running well, but she said, “When I hit her, she just exploded.”

Code Warrior burst past Algenon easily and convincingly and looked a winner all through the lane as she ran six furlongs in 1:09.68, including the final eighth in 11.83 seconds.

Stakes-winning Gold Rush Dancer was third, another five lengths back.

J.C. Racing Stable purchased the filly for $18,000 at the final Fasig-Tipton Texas Sale in April. She earned $30,350 for her first stakes win, bringing her lifetime total to $45,950.

Her next appearance will be against her own sex in the $50,000 Golden Gate Debutante at six furlongs on Nov. 28.

Should she win, she would join Cathy’s Crunches, who won both races in 2010.