Wildcat Heir powers home

Wildcat Heir took an important step forward Monday afternoon with a powerful four-length victory in the $60,000 Icecapade Stakes at Monmouth Park.

The 4-year-old Wildcat Heir, making only his eighth career start, notched his first stakes victory by demolishing a solid field of sprinters.

Wildcat Heir ($6) rated right behind the speed duel that developed between Here's Zealous and Don Six. The race was over once Jose Velez Jr. turned Wildcat Heir loose.

"As soon as I asked him at the top of the stretch, he really took off," said Velez. "When I saw nobody was coming, I slowed him down.

The wrapped-up Forest Heir ran the six furlongs in 1:09.24.

Sing Me Back Home was second and Here's Zealous held on for third.

Trainer Ben Perkins Jr. has the Grade 3, $250,000 Phoenix Breeders' Cup Stakes at Keeneland in mind for Wildcat Heir, a son of Forest Wildcat.

In the $55,000 Candy Eclair Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, Ambition Unbridled wired the field to win by 1 1/4 lengths on firm turf.

Ambition Unbridled ($9), ridden by Horacio Karamanos for trainer Gammy Vazquez, ran the five furlongs in 57.04 seconds. Whatsmineisyours was second, with Very Vegas third.