Feisty Suances wins with ease

ALBANY, Calif. - Heavily favored Feisty Suances ($2.80) scored the first stakes win of his career with a wire-to-wire victory in the $75,000 Silky Sullivan Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

Feisty Suances took command immediately under Kyle Kaenel, withstood an early challenge from Our Mango, and was unchallenged in the stretch in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old California-breds. He defeated Miguel's Mascot by four lengths, winning the race in 1:45.39 over the Tapeta main track after rains forced the race off the turf. Niner Genius was third, another two lengths back.

Feisty Suances was never really asked to run until turning for home, easing away from a hard-used Royal Mango on the second turn.

"He's a nice horse. He's got a lot of class," said Kaenel. "His first three jumps are amazing - he really gets out of there - and then you put your hands down and he comes right back to you and relaxes.

"He sensed that horse was next to him, but he didn't get anxious. He just waited for me to tell him when to go. He did it real easy today."

Feisty Suances, a Red Baron's Barn homebred trained by Darrell Vienna, won his first three starts and was second to Kentucky Derby runner-up in the Grade 2 San Felipe. He earned $45,000, boosting his career earnings to $184,820 with four wins in eight starts.