Surf Cat wins San Carlos

ARCADIA, Calif. Surf Cat has found a consistent way to energize his career win the Grade 2 San Carlos Handicap at Santa Anita every couple of years.

In 2006, Surf Cat won his first stakes as an older horse in the San Carlos. Saturday, he won the San Carlos, a $150,000 race, for the second time, ending a 21-month gap without a stakes win and proving he is still competitive as a 6-year-old.

Ridden by Alex Solis, Surf Cat rallied from fifth in a field of seven to catch Gregs Gold in the final strides. Surf Cat ($7) ran seven furlongs in 1:21.62, winning by a half-length. Soul City Slew finished third. Johnny Eves, the 9-5 favorite and the winner of the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26, finished fourth, losing by 2 3-4 lengths.

Johnny Eves and Gregs Gold dueled through fractions of 23.30 and 45.63 seconds. Surf Cat was six lengths off the pace after a half-mile and ran brilliantly through the stretch to reach the front.

Owned by Aase Headley and Marsha Naify, Surf Cat, by Sir Cat, has won 8 of 16 starts and $795,420. The victory gave trainer Bruce Headley a fifth win in the San Carlos, one fewer than all-time leader Charlie Whittingham.