Surf Cat takes Potrero Grande

ARCADIA, Calif. - Surf Cat's sprint division rivals will be glad to be rid of him after Sunday's $128,000 at Santa Anita.

In winning his second sprint stakes of the meeting, Surf Cat expended little energy, rallying from fourth to win by 2 1-4 lengths under a hand ride from jockey Alex Solis. Surf Cat ($2.40) ran 6 1-2 furlongs in 1:15.

It was not a competitive race. Surf Cat stalked Keep on Punching, Areyoutalkintome and Grinding it Out, who set early fractions of 21.69 and 44.25 seconds. With a four-wide rally, Surf Cat made up five lengths on the final turn to reach contention. He went by the pacesetters quickly in the final furlong and was not urged late.

"That was really impressive," trainer Bruce Headley said. "That's what he likes to do is stalk. Alex knows him well."

Grinding it Out held second, finishing 1 1-2 lengths in front of Oceanus.

Owned by Headley's wife, Aase, and Marsha Haify, Surf Cat, 4, has won 6 of 10 starts and $472,420. He won the Swaps Stakes last summer at Hollywood Park and the San Carlos Handicap here on Feb. 18. Bruce Headley said Surf Cat will race in stakes around two turns at the Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting.

Surf Cat was so heavily favored that he attracted $515,420 of the $542,924 bet to show, resulting in a minus show pool of $95,980.