Post-Race Review
Two undefeated fillies, Witty and Carlsbad, slugged it out to the wire in the Railbird Stakes, and as early pacesetter Carlsbad faltered in the final strides, Witty opened up to score by a length and a half. Trained by Richard Mandella, Witty improved her record to three wins in three starts.
Right from the start, Carlsbad bolted to the lead and outran Strawberry Tart, while Witty sat back in third, watching the rapid pace. Rounding the far turn, jockey Victor Espnioza asked Witty for run and the Distorted Humor filly flew up in between the front runners and then dueled with Carlsbad to the wire. The 7-5 second choice, Witty returned $4.80 to win and topped a $5.50 exacta.
The field was reduced to six after the scratched of Lady Lumberjack, Music Magic, and Pretty Unusual. The final time for seven furlongs was 1:21.74.
Pre-Race Analysis
The Mother’s Day feature at Hollywood Park is the Railbird Stakes (gr. III), a seven furlong dash on the synthetic main track for a purse of $100,000. The big favorite in this race is Carlsbad, a three-year-old Arizona-bred filly by Rocky Bar who is undefeated in five lifetime starts. After taking four races in Arizona by baffling margins, including a stakes race by nineteen lengths, Carlsbad transferred to Southern California and won the Santa Paula Stakes by 3 1/4 lengths. This filly is flat out speedy and has never once been behind any rivals at a point of call. Tyler Baze has the mount.
Witty is the second choice, and this well bred daughter of Distorted Humor is also undefeated, having won both Santa Anita starts earlier this year. Trained by Richard Mandella, Witty has already defeated Lady Lumberjack, the CASE choice in this race with a rating of 100. Lady Lumberjack, by Forestry, won a Santa Anita maiden race on February 22nd prior to losing an allowance by 3 1/4 lengths behind Witty on April 12th. Victor Espinoza has the call on Witty, and Joel Rosario will be aboard Lady Lumberjack.
Ultra Blend finished second behind Carlsbad in the Santa Paula which was the Richly Blended filly’s first Southern California start. Prior to that effort, Ultra Blend raced exclusively in Northern California, where she won four starts. Art Sherman trains, and Jose Valdivia, Jr. will ride.
Despite arriving from Oaklawn Park for her Southern California debut, Strawberry Tart is two for three lifetime and holds a bullet workout over this racetrack on May 3rd, smoking five furlongs in :58.3. The Atticus filly will have the services of Mike Smith, and is coming off a sharp five length win on April 3rd over six furlongs. Jeff Bonde trains this state-bred filly, whose only loss occurred while pulling up lame on July 18th of last year.
Pretty Unusual won the April 25th Melair Stakes by a length under Rafael Bejarano, who has the call again today. The daughter of Unusual Heat is trained by Barry Abrams, and has two wins in five lifetime starts.
Burg Berg, Will O Way and Music Magic complete the field of nine three-year-old fillies.
---
Emily Shields is a regular contributor to Case the Race. She has written for California Thoroughbred, Churchill Downs media, and international racing magazines.
