Promising fillies, jockeys square off in CTBA Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – A pair of bright young jockeys and the 2-year-old fillies they ride Wednesday at Del Mar will be tested in the $100,000 California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes for California-bred fillies.

Flavien Prat and Evin Roman have refreshed the Southern California jockey colony and enter the third week of racing as Del Mar’s top riders – Roman leads with 11 wins, Prat has 10. Both have questions to answer in the CTBA.

Prat, who will turn 25 on Friday, is firmly established as one of the circuit’s premier jockeys. But can Prat pick a winner? Does he handicap? After he worked Kimberlea K for Jerry Hollendorfer last week, Prat all but assured a victory in the CTBA.

“That guy is very hard to impress,” assistant trainer Dan Ward said. “He worked her and said, ‘This filly will win.’ He never let her run.”

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It was the second time Prat had worked Kimberlea K, a stakes winner in Northern California and the 3-1 program favorite. The work was slow, five furlongs in 1:03.60, but the Del Mar surface produces slow times prior to the first renovation break at 6 a.m. Kimberlea K worked at 5 a.m.

While the handicapping skill of Prat is tested in the CTBA, the 19-year-old Roman faces the pressure of stakes competition. Since May 1, Roman has won more races (63) than any rider on the circuit. He is 1 for 10 in stakes, and his second stakes win could be with Show It N Moe It in the CTBA. Roman, who gets a five-pound apprentice allowance except in stakes, has impressed the filly’s trainer, Gary Sherlock.

“He’s a bug boy, but he doesn’t send,” Sherlock said. “Even if he’s in front, he’s sitting – he’s not driving. I’ve got him on two stakes. Usually, you wouldn’t do that without the weight.”

Roman is scheduled to ride the Sherlock-trained Smokem in the $100,000 Graduation Stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds on Sunday. He rode Show It N Moe It, 4-1 on the program, to a 6 1/4-length maiden victory last out. A repeat of that effort might be enough on Wednesday.

The 5 1/2-furlong CTBA is race 7. The field includes Gorgeous Ginny, the 7-2 second choice on the program, and the romping maiden winner Family Girl. The others entered are Empress of Lov, Mama’s Kid, Estherfourfourteen, Spiced Perfection, and Meet My Kitty.

KEY CONTENDERS

Kimberlea K, by Indian Evening

Beyers: 67-57

◗ She has raced twice – a runaway debut win at Golden Gate Fields followed by a win in the Everett Nevin Stakes at Pleasanton over colts and geldings.

◗ She has a reputation of being fussy in the paddock; Ward planned to school her five straight days leading up to the CTBA.

◗ Her most recent win was visually modest, and she did not switch leads. However, in both of her works at Del Mar, Ward said she switched leads on cue and finished willingly.

Show It N Moe It, by Grace Upon Grace

Beyers: 71-58-51

◗ The maiden race she won last out was validated by one next-out winner and three next-out runners-up.

◗ Sherlock said her most recent workout, recorded as three furlongs in 37.40 seconds last Friday, was actually a half-mile in 47 and change. “She worked real well,” Sherlock said.

Gorgeous Ginny, by Take Charge Indy

Beyers: 75-59

◗ After a debut runaway in May, she was crushed by Surrender Now in the Landaluce Stakes, finishing second by eight lengths. Surrender Now will be among the favorites Saturday in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes.

◗ Robertino Diodoro trains Gorgeous Ginny, the likely pacesetter under Jamie Theriot.

Empress of Lov, by Empire Way

Beyers: 49-58-49

◗ The second Sherlock entrant, she pressed the pace and faded in the Landaluce. “She was really close [to the lead]; she didn’t finish at all,” Sherlock said. “We’re going to take her back a little bit and see if she will close.”