Vexatious takes a big step forward in CTT and TOC Stakes

DEL MAR, Calf. – Vexatious stormed past 1-2 favorite Queen Blossom in the final furlong to win her first stakes in Wednesday’s $75,754 CTT and TOC Stakes at Del Mar, a victory trainer Neil Drysdale hopes will lead to the 4-year-old filly starting in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Vexatious ($7) closed from last in a field of four to win the CTT and TOC Stakes by a length over Queen Blossom, who led in the stretch. Amboseli and Space Cadet, who disputed the pace together, finished third and fourth.

Evo Campo, Fahan Mura, and Fool’s Paradise were scratched on Wednesday morning. Fool’s Paradise is entered in Saturday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks.

Vexatious finished 1 3/8 miles on turf in 2:16.06, in the longest race of her career. Last year, Vexatious raced primarily on dirt, finishing third in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks and Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes before a fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks.

Drysdale said he has wanted to try Vexatious in longer turf races for some time.

“I felt all of last year she was a mile-and-a-half horse,” Drysdale said.

Owned by Calumet Farm, Vexatious has won 2 of 11 starts and earned $232,225. Drysdale said would like to give Vexatious as many as two additional starts before the BC Filly and Mare Turf.

Vexatious, by Giant’s Causeway, is out of Dream of Summer, the millionaire six-time stakes winner who has produced two graded stakes winners – Creative Cause, who earned $1,039,000 and was third in the 2012 Preakness Stakes, and Destin, who won the Grade 2 Marathon Stakes at Del Mar last November and earned $947,800.