Marino's Wild Cat cruises in Harris Farms Stakes

Marino’s Wild Cat had the best speed and used that to full advantage in scoring his first stakes victory in the $100,250 Harris Farm Stakes on Sunday at the Big Fresno Fair.

Even-money favorite Ain’t No Other broke sharply and immediately when to the lead in the six-furlong race for California-breds, but Marino’s Wild Cat ($7.80), making only his second stakes start, quickly pushed past him to hold a one-half length lead through a 22.86-second opening quarter.

As Silvio Amador sat completely still, Marino’s Wild Cat picked up the pace with a 21.91 second quarter, maintaining his one-half length advantage at the quarter pole.

But as the field of five turned into the stretch, Marino’s Wild Cat kept going as Ain’t No other began to fade and no other runner could muster a rally. He continued on for a 5 3/4-length (win over longshot A Toast to You, covering six furlongs in 1:08.61. Spirit Rules was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third.

Amador, who won three straight on the 5-year-old Marino’s Wild Cat earlier this year, won the first $100,000 stakes of his career.

Owned and bred by Roy Guinnane, who races under the name GCCI, Marino’s Wild Cat earned $60,050 to increase his career earnings to $157,410.

Cliff Delima is the trainer.