Solid Wager shows he still loves Cary Grant Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Two of the first 1,000 winners of trainer Peter Miller’s career came with Solid Wager in the Cary Grant Stakes, and Miller got started on his next 1,000 on Sunday at Del Mar when Solid Wager, still eager as ever at age 7, won the Cary Grant for the third time in the last four years, this time in emphatic fashion with a 6 1/4-length drubbing of his rivals.

The Cary Grant, for older California-bred sprinters, has been a Solid Wager favorite over the years. He won it in 2015 and 2016, lost by a half-length to Edwards Going Left last year, but got revenge and then some as Edwards Going Left – the favorite on Sunday - was a distant second this time.

Solid Wager ($11.40) had raced for a $40,000 claiming tag in his last four starts, and he nearly ended up in a similar spot Sunday. There was an optional claimer, race 6, at 6 1/2 furlongs for which he could have raced for $40,000.

“This is his favorite track, seven-eighths is his favorite distance, and I thought he’d get a good pace setup,” Miller said, listing the reasons he opted for the Cary Grant.

Indeed, the race played out as he would have hoped, for Tough But Nice and Touching Rainbows sped off through fractions of 22.46 seconds for the opening quarter and a quick 44.97 seconds for the half, while Solid Wager sat back in sixth in the eight-horse field under Drayden Van Dyke.

Edwards Going Left, who sat just off the early leaders, got first run on Solid Wager on the far turn, but it was of no consequence, because Solid Wager engulfed him in upper stretch and drew away. He was timed in 1:22.47 for seven furlongs on the fast main track.

Brandothebartender finished third, a half-length behind Edwards Going Left, then came, in order, Touching Rainbows, Minoso, Shades of Victory, Grecian Fire, and Tough But Nice.

Solid Wager, a gelding by Birdonthewire owned by brothers Gary and Cecil Barber and Stanford Stable, has now won 10 times in 47 starts, and the $57,000 first prize from the gross purse of $100,690 increased his career bankroll to $740,731. He has now won three times and finished second four times in 12 starts at Del Mar.

“I’ve had him since he was a 2-year-old," Miller said. "Six years together. He’s a barn favorite, a sweetheart of a horse.”