Promising jockeys, fillies square off in CTBA Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – A pair of bright young jockeys and the 2-year-old fillies they ride Wednesday at Del Mar will be tested in the $100,000 California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes for California-bred fillies.

Flavien Prat and Evin Roman have refreshed the Southern California jockey colony and enter the third week of racing as Del Mar’s top riders – Roman leads with 11 wins, Prat has 10. Both have questions to answer in the CTBA.

Prat, who turns 25 on Friday, is firmly established as one of the circuit’s premier jockeys. But can Prat pick a winner? Does he handicap? After he worked Kimberlea K for Jerry Hollendorfer last week, Prat all but assured a victory in the CTBA.

“That guy is very hard to impress,” assistant trainer Dan Ward said. “He worked her and said, ‘This filly will win.’ He never let her run.”

It was the second time Prat had worked Kimberlea K, a stakes winner in Northern California and the 3-1 program favorite. The work was slow, five furlongs in 1:03.60, but the Del Mar surface produces slow times prior to the first renovation break at 6 a.m. Kimberlea K worked at 5 a.m.

While the handicapping skill of Prat is tested in the CTBA, the 19-year-old Roman faces the pressure of stakes competition. Since May 1, Roman has won more races (63) than any rider on the circuit. He is 1 for 10 in stakes, and his second stakes win could be with Show It N Moe It in the CTBA. Roman, who gets a five-pound apprentice allowance except in stakes, has impressed the filly’s trainer, Gary Sherlock.

“He’s a bug boy, but he doesn’t send,” Sherlock said. “Even if he’s in front, he’s sitting – he’s not driving.”

Roman rode Show It N Moe It, 4-1 on the program, to a 6 1/4-length maiden victory last out. A repeat of that effort might be enough on Wednesday.

The 5 1/2-furlong CTBA is race 7. The field includes Gorgeous Ginny, the 7-2 second choice on the program, and the romping maiden winner Family Girl.

KEY CONTENDERS

Kimberlea K, by Indian Evening Beyers: 67-57

◗ She has raced twice – a runaway debut win at Golden Gate Fields followed by a win in the Everett Nevin Stakes at Pleasanton over colts and geldings.

◗ She has a reputation of being fussy in the paddock; Ward planned to school her five straight days leading up

to the CTBA.

Show It N Moe It, by Grace Upon Grace Beyers: 71-58-51

◗ The maiden race she won last out was validated by one next-out winner and three nextout runners-up.

◗ Sherlock said her most recent workout, recorded as three furlongs in 37.40 seconds last Friday, was actually a halfmile in 47 and change.

Gorgeous Ginny, by Take Charge Indy Beyers: 75-59

◗ After a debut runaway in May, she was crushed by Surrender Now in the Landaluce Stakes, finishing second by eight lengths. Surrender Now will be among the favorites Saturday in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes.