Sherlock sends out two of the five in CTBA Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Terry Lovingier bred three of the five 2-year-old fillies in the $100,000 California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes on Friday at Del Mar and still co-owns two of them. Both are trained by Gary Sherlock, who is off to a solid start at the meet, with two wins from his first five runners.

Sherlock will try to add to that total with Cioppino Pasadino and I’ll Be Around, both of whom have started twice and own a win against statebred maidens.

Cioppino Pasadino won first time out, then was pitched against open company and faded after setting a hot pace in the Landaluce Stakes at Santa Anita.

I’ll Be Around beat maidens on opening day here July 15 and could become the first two-time winner at the meet.

To prevail, they will have to beat the likely favorite, My California, who romped over maidens in her second start while earning the fastest Beyer Speed Figure among the five in this race.

Since the field is so small, the CTBA – at 5 1/2 furlongs – will be run as race 2 on the eight-race card, keeping it out of the pick six. Friday’s first post is 4 p.m. Pacific.

KEY CONTENDERS

My California, by Calimonco

Beyers: 63-47

◗ After losing by a half-length to CTBA rival Love a Honeybadger when both debuted May 19, she came back with a much-improved effort the second time out when romping by 9 1/4 lengths.

Cioppino Pasadino, by Time to Get Even

Beyers: 48-56

◗ She showed high speed to win her debut May 29 before competing in the Landaluce on July 9.

◗ She gets class relief by moving back into a statebred race, and Sherlock believes the time between her first two races might have left her short last time.

“She won one of the early 2-year-old races and was off a long time,” he said. “She got tired.”

◗ Sherlock said Cioppino Pasadino is “as fast a filly as I’ve had the first quarter-mile.”

I’ll Be Around, by Bushwacker

Beyers: 58-38

◗ She finished a distant third in her debut June 16 behind My California, then made the top and kept on going to beat maidens on opening day.

“The first time, she got left, rushed up, and got tired,” Sherlock said. “She should run pretty well.”

Love a Honeybadger, by Bushwacker

Beyers: 35-49

◗ She was bred by Lovingier but then sold as a yearling.

◗ She defeated My California and You’re Late in her first start but could not keep up in the Landaluce and wound up last of six.

◗ Blinkers go on for this race.

You’re Late, by Lucky Pulpit

Beyers: 52-44

◗ She was third to Love a Honeybadger and My California in her first start, then beat maidens the second time out, but in a slower time than what My California recorded in another maiden race that day.