Katdogawn notches first graded stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. - Katdogawn benefited from a perfect trip under Julie Krone to win her first graded stakes in Saturday's $150,000 at Del Mar.

Katdogawn ($12.20) finished a mile on turf in 1:33.62, setting a stakes record in the Grade 2 San Clemente.

"It was all her and as push-button as it looked," Krone said.

Krone had Katdogawn in fourth-place for the first six furlongs, tracking pacesetter Valentine Dancer who set fractions of 22.79 and 46.62 seconds. Krone moved Katdogawn to the outside in early stretch and pulled clear late to win by two lengths over 6-5 favorite Atlantic Ocean, who led passing the eighth pole.

Buffythecenterfold finished third in the field of nine 3-year-old fillies. Star Vega, coupled with Katdogawn, finished fourth.

Trained by Jim Cassidy for Jim Ford, John Cuchna and Deron Pearson, Katdogawn has won 4 of 12 starts and $226,250. Purchased last fall in England, Katdogawn won her first stakes in the U.S. in the Manhattan Beach Handicap over 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Hollywood Park on June 1. She was a fast-closing second in the Flawlessly Stakes over a mile on July 6.

* In the $76,475 Wickerr Handicap, Touch of the Blues ($7.40) ended an eight-race losing streak with a nose victory over Inesperado. Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Touch of the Blues finished a mile in a hand-timed 1:32.22, lowering the year-old course record of Special Ring by a half-second.