Four in a row for Ultra Blend

Odds-on favorite Ultra Blend scored her fourth straight victory as she won her stakes debut with ease in the $75,000 Tiburon Stakes, a six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

Content to sit behind pacesetting Joe'sgirlisgolden, who was hustled to the lead early, Ultra Blend ($3.60) easily took control of the race as she rallied from the three path midway around the turn. She pulled even with the leader leaving the quarter pole and increased her advantage through the lane despite veering in slightly in midstretch.

Ultra Blend defeated Pretty Katherine by three lengths in 1:09.62 with Point of Reference another 1 1/2 lengths back. Joe'sgirlisgolden faded to last in the field of five.

Winning jockey Roberto Gonzalez said he expected that Joe'sgirlisgolden would go to the lead.

"I just wanted to sit behind her, and it worked out perfect. I knew I had the leader on the turn," Gonzalez said. "My filly was a little lazy changing leads today, but once she did, she was gone."

Trainer Steve Sherman said his next major goal with Ultra Blend, a daughter of Richly Blended, is the Grade 3, $100,000 Santa Paula Stakes on March 29 at Santa Anita.

"Today she really moved forward," he said. "She can run 1:09 and change like it's nothing."

Owned by Nels Erickson, Ultra Blend picked up $45,000, boosting her career earnings to $104,900.