Hillside sprint a little short for senior citizen Cordiality

ARCADIA, Calif. – Veteran mare Cordiality has been racing forever – the 9-year-old began her career way back in 2015, before any of her Friday rivals were even foaled.

“She’s like a grandmother,” trainer Tim Yakteen cracked. “Well, this grandmother can still run.”

Cordiality runs, and wins. A former $12,500 claiming filly, Cordiality has won 12 races, including five Cal-bred stakes, and earned $633,363. She retired briefly last spring, but when a mating with stallion Grazen did not take, Cordiality went back to the track for Yakteen and owner Donnie Crevier.

“She’s super healthy, and just a neat, neat mare,” Yakteen said. “If you look at her record, she’s always been a hard-knocking mare.”

It runs in the family. Warmth, the dam of Cordiality, started just once, but her foals are durable. Cordiality has raced 35 times; stakes-winning sibling North County Guy made 33 starts; two lower-level siblings raced 53 and 67 times. The family’s youngest runner is Funny Feline, who makes her second start in the eighth race Friday.

Cordiality would be the oldest horse to win this meet if she knocks off a solid field of whippersnappers Friday in the featured sixth race for fillies and mares. However, the distance is not ideal – the second-level allowance/optional $80,000 claiming race is at 6 1/2 furlongs on the hill, shorter than Cordiality prefers.

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“I don’t think sprinting is her best game,” Yakteen acknowledged. “She’s a miler. She can win, but this race will set her up for her next race.” Cordiality is shortening up from a comeback two months ago in which she set the pace in a turf route and finished sixth.

Cordiality’s main rival is 4-year-old Sensible Cat, a stakes-winning juvenile in 2020 who finished a sharp second in her recent comeback at the same class and downhill course on which she runs Friday. Others include Miss Fia, the likely pacesetter, and New Heat, who often outruns her odds. Spirit of Bermuda, Shore Break, and Royal Address are also entered.

Sensible Cat, trained by Carla Gaines, finished second on Jan. 7 in her comeback following an eight-month layoff.

“You just hope they’re going to improve with time off and a little bit of age on them, and I think she did,” Gaines said.

Gaines initially did not plan to wheel back Sensible Cat so soon, fearing the possibility she would bounce.

“I said I’m not going to run her back [quickly],” Gaines said. “I’m going to give her six weeks. And then she just starting touting me. I might as well go.”

Sensible Cat, owned by Irvin Racing Stable, has won three races and $176,060 from eight starts.

The likely pacesetter Friday is Miss Fia, a 4-for-12 dirt specialist making her first start in nearly three months. She could shake loose, while upset candidate New Heat rallies from behind. New Heat has won 3 of 11, at generous win payoffs – $20.40, $27.40, and $30.40.