Marino's Wild Cat wires Lost in the Fog Stakes

Marino’s Wild Cat ($5) took all the late wagering and rewarded his backers with an easy, front-running victory in Monday’s $60,460 Lost in the Fog Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.

Marino’s Wild Cat broke sharply from the rail and used his natural speed to take the lead over undefeated comebacker Exit Stage Left down the backstretch as the two ran one-two all the way in the six-furlong race.

Setting honest early fractions while not being pressured by jockey Silvio Amador, Marino’s Wild Cat never seemed in danger. He took a two-length lead in the stretch and wound up winning in 1:08.92, defeating Exit Stage Left by 1 3/4 lengths.

“It was good that nobody came out to fight me on the lead,” said Amador. “I was out there by myself and feeling confident. When the other horse came up to him, I had a pretty good hold and was confident he’d hold him off.”

Exit Stage Left won his first three starts, all in stakes, but was making his first start since Jan. 18, 2014. He turned in a good effort, as did European multiple graded stakes winner Giant Sandman, making his U.S. debut and his first start since Feb. 13, 2014, while finishing third, another length back.

“He ran good,” said Exit Stage Left’s jockey, Russell Baze. “I was happy with the race. I don’t have any doubts that next time he’ll go right on by that horse.”

Marino’s Wild Cat scored his sixth win and his second stakes victory for breeder Roy Guinnane, who races as GCCI. The California-bred son of Marino Marini earned $39,350 to increase his lifetime earnings to $214,760. He won the $100,000 Harris Farm Stakes at Fresno last fall and followed up with a second behind Outside Nashville in the Oakland Stakes at Golden Gate Fields for train Cliff Delima.