Cuddle Alert can earn hug from Saldana in CERF Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Cuddle Alert gave trainer Reed Saldana his first win at Del Mar when the mare won an optional claimer on Aug. 17. The goals are higher on Monday, when Cuddle Alert starts in the $75,000 CERF Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs.

Cuddle Alert can give Saldana his first stakes win as a trainer. The filly won the Spring Fever Stakes at Santa Anita this year when trained by Saldana’s wife, Melissa.

Cuddle Alert, a California-bred by Bedford Falls, is owned by Reed Saldana and Leopoldo Urbina and was claimed for $10,000 at the 2016 Del Mar summer meeting. This year, Cuddle Alert has won 3 of 8 starts and earned $178,773.

Sent off at 14-1 on Aug. 17, Cuddle Alert stalked the pace to the final furlong and held off Noted and Quoted, the winner of the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Santa Anita last October.

Cuddle Alert emerged from her recent race in good condition, but the distance of the CERF is a slight concern, Reed Saldana said.

“The way she ran the other day, I think it would be okay,” he said. “I’d rather have 6 1/2 or seven furlongs. I think there is enough speed in this race that we can be stalking.”

Noted and Quoted also returns in the CERF Stakes, which drew a field of nine. The CERF Stakes would be the stakes debut of Classy Tune, but trainer Simon Callaghan said on Friday that he was unsure whether Classy Tune will start in the CERF Stakes or be sent to Churchill Downs for the $100,000 Dogwood Stakes on Sept. 23. Classy Tune has won twice at this meeting – a maiden race on July 19 and an optional claimer on Aug. 20.

“It’s two weeks back, and she loves the track,” Callaghan said. “She seems to have taken things well since the race. There are pros and cons.”

The CERF Stakes will be the second start following a layoff for Bad Ju Ju, who won the Kalookan Queen Stakes at Santa Anita last December. Trained by Peter Miller, the speedy Bad Ju Ju was third in the Daisycutter Handicap at five furlongs on turf here Aug. 4, her first start since January.