Surf Cat turns it on and wins San Carlos
Away from the winner’s circle for a long time, Surf Cat returned with a stylish victory Saturday in the $150,000 San Carlos Handicap at Santa Anita.
Winning for the first time since he took the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap more than 21 months ago at Hollywood Park, the 6-year-old Sir Cat horse rallied in the middle of the track to defeat Greg’s Gold and five others in the Grade II.
Trained by Bruce Headley for his wife, Aase, and Marsha Naify, Surf Cat, the 5-2 second choice, won for the eighth time in 16 starts and for the fifth time in eight tries at Santa Anita.
“He missed a couple of works and probably needed his last race [third in the Palos Verdes on Jan. 21],” said Headley after his fifth win in the San Carlos, all in tandem with Solis. “He had everything his way today. Perfect spot, perfect position and he was ready to go.”
Greg’s Gold, the 7-2 third choice, finished second, a little more than one length in front of 8-1 longshot Soul City Slew.
The disappointment was Johnny Eves. Winner of the Malibu at the San Carlos distance on Dec. 26, the 4-year-old Skimming gelding made the lead through a slow opening quarter (23.30) while pressed by Greg’s Gold, but faltered in the final eighth of a mile and finished fourth.
Fierce Wind, the 3-1 second choice, won the $105,000 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs.
A 3-year-old son of Dixie Union owned by Four Roses Thoroughbred and trained by Nick Zito, Fierce Wind won by a half-length under jockey Cornelio Velasquez in the race that was won a year ago by eventual Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense.
Tribesman, the 3-1 second choice, won his fifth in a row, defeating favored Idiot Proof and seven others in the $150,000 Phoenix Gold Cup.
In other stakes at Turf Paradise, Fleet Caroline led throughout to win the $50,000 Sun City Handicap and Billy Allen won the $75,000 Turf Paradise Handicap.
Favored Sea Of Pleasure won for the third time in four starts, taking the $55,000 Sophomore Sprint at Bay Meadows.
There is a pick six carry-over of $420,093 today at Santa Anita.
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