May Day Rose goes from maiden ranks to stakes winner in Sharp Cat

INGLEWOOD, Calif.- May Day Rose scored an easy win in her stakes debut in Sunday’s $100,000 Sharp Cat Stakes at Hollywood Park, leading throughout and winning by a convincing 4 1/4 lengths.

Ridden by Martin Garcia, May Day Rose ($6.60) was never seriously challenged in her first start since beating maidens over 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Sept. 4. The Sharp Cat Stakes was May Day Rose’s first start at 1 1/16 miles.

Garcia had May Day Rose in front by a length over Big Tiz through early fractions of 22.99 and 46.53 seconds, and urged her further clear in the stretch. May Day Rose was timed in 1:44.39.

“We’ve been making her finish in the mornings, and look at the results,” Garcia said. “I think she’s always wanted distance.”

True Way of Grace, the winner of the Barretts Debutante at Fairplex Park in September, closed from last in a field of six to finish second, a half-length in front of Big Tiz, the 8-5 favorite.

May Day Rose races for Kaleem Shah and trainer Bob Baffert. By Rockport Harbor, May Day Rose was second in her debut at Del Mar on Aug. 22 and has won her last two starts.