Ima Happy Cat outfoots them all in Hastings Stakes

Jockey Gary Wales was expecting to have Ima Happy Cat sitting in a stalking position Monday in the $50,000 Hastings Stakes at Emerald Downs, but he went to Plan B when she broke on top, and they led to the wire.

Ima Happy Cat paid $10.80 for her victory in the six-furlong dash for fillies and mares. Bella Mia, who finished second, was disqualified to fifth for drifting out and causing interference in the stretch to her stablemate Best of Me.

Dontkissntell, who rallied late, was moved up to second, with Paddy’s Secret, who also showed up late, awarded the third spot.

Ima Happy Cat broke from the outside post in the nine-horse field and carved out quick interior fractions of 21.48 and 43.63 on her way to posting a final time of 1:08.73. She finished a length in front of Bella Mia.

Wales, who rode Ima Happy Cat for the first time, was confident going into the race.

“I worked her five furlongs last week and she went 58 under wraps,” he said. “I didn’t expect to be on the lead but she was just faster than those girls today. She felt like a Cadillac going down the backstretch.”

A 4-year-old Washington-bred daughter of Smiling Tiger, Ima Happy Cat races for Tim and Sue Spooner and is trained by Dan Markle.

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