Code Warrior learning from California Oaks defeat

Trainer Manny Badilla was philosophical about Code Warrior’s fourth-place finish in her route debut in last Saturday’s California Oaks. The favored 3-year-old filly lost for the first time at Golden Gate Fields.

“I knew when we drew the rail it was trouble in River City,” he said. “It was very educational for her to get pinned down on the rail.”

Although she seemed capable of taking the lead based on her sprint fractions, jockey Anne Sanguinetti kept her off the pace.

“We didn’t want to send her on the lead her first time routing,” Badilla said. “The main thing is she pulled up well and ate everything.”

Kiss N Scat improved her record on the main track to 3 for 3 with an impressive run to give trainer Jerry Hollendorfer a pair of stakes wins for his 3-year-old fillies Saturday, with Eclipse Award winner Songbird winning her 2016 debut earlier at Santa Anita.

Winning jockey Ricardo Gonzalez was impressed by Kiss N Scat, a Scat Daddy filly who showed improvement in her first start since a 13-length optional-claiming victory Nov. 26.

“It was a nice performance,” he said. “She sat right off the pace, and when I was ready to go, she made a really good move. It seemed like the other horses were coming, but then she took off again.”