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Caracortado seeks sixth straight in San Felipe
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| Caracortado continues to outrun expectations
(Benoit Photos) |
On Saturday, the popular duo of jockey Paul Atkinson and CARACORTADO (Cat
Dreams) hope to move a step closer to the May 1 Kentucky Derby (G1) when they run in the $150,000
San Felipe
S. (G2) going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita.
Early on, Caracortado and Atkinson flew beneath
racing's radar, but after winning the Robert B. Lewis S. (G2) on February 13, trainer Mike Machowsky
proclaimed those days were over.
"He surprised me when I worked him three-quarters here (in 1:12 2/5 on January
31), but from then on, he's pretty much run as I expected," the 40-year-old
Atkinson said of Caracortado, a gelding bred by Machowsky, who also owns a share
of the horse.
"It doesn't seem like distance will be a problem for him, either," Atkinson
continued. "Like in the Lewis, he just waited, and sitting on him, it was kind of
like, 'Can we go now? How about now? Are we ready yet?' When I let him go, he
just turns it on and gives you everything he's got."
Caracortado's humble beginnings began with a 1 3/4-length victory in a
$40,000 maiden claiming event going about a half-mile over the dirt at Fairplex.
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"I thought he'd be a good price, it was Fairplex, and I knew he was fast,"
Machowsky laughed when asked if he had underestimated his charge. "And he's fast, but he also
can run all day."
Since Caracortado won the Lewis, Machowsky has been fielding questions from a
suddenly piqued national media about the horse he calls "M.C." around the barn.
"It stands for mentally challenged," the trainer explained. "He was a pain in the ass
when I first got him, but now he's a pro. Lately, a bunch of guys are calling
all the time asking about the horse. I've done quite a few interviews, which is
great. Hopefully, it will keep going."
Caracortado has been extremely consistent in his races, winning all but one
of his five lifetime starts by 1 3/4 lengths. The lone exception came on December 6 when he
captured an allowance by 1 1/2 lengths. He'll attempt to keep his perfect record
going while breaking from the far outside 7 post in the San Felipe.
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| Sidney's Candy will go for his second straight stakes win
(Benoit Photos) |
SIDNEY'S CANDY (Candy Ride [Arg]), AMERICAN LION (Tiznow) and INTERACTIF
(Broken Vow) are just three of Caracortado's rivals in the race, and each hopes
to pad their own resumes with another win before Kentucky Derby Day.
Sidney's Candy is the likely speed in the San Felipe following a
front-running 4 1/4-length score in the San Vicente S. (G2) on February 15. The
John Sadler trainee was making his stakes bow in that seven-furlong event and
will be trying a route of ground here for the first time. Regular rider Joe
Talamo has the call on the chestnut colt.
American Lion is out to turn the tables on Caracortado after failing to keep
stride with that rival late in the Lewis. The bay three-year-old
tracked in second until reaching the stretch and then fell to the onslaught of
both the winner and runner-up DAVE IN DIXIE (Dixie Union), who is looking for
his first black-type win in this race. American Lion already owns a graded
score, having captured the Hollywood Prevue S. (G3) in his juvenile finale.
Julien Leparoux will be aboard the Eoin Harty runner, while Joel Rosario will
hold the reins once again on the Sadler-conditioned Dave in Dixie.
Interactif broke his maiden on dirt, stretched out on turf to easily take the
With Anticipation S. (G3) and Bourbon S. (G3), and will be trying an all-weather
surface for the first time here. He was second by a nose in his sophomore bow,
the Hallandale Beach S. at Gulfstream Park, and has been working in Florida over
the winter for trainer Todd Pletcher. Rafael Bejarano takes over the mount.
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Maiden STEPHEN'S GOT HOPE (Stephen Got Even) and maiden winner ERBEIA
(Pulpit) round out the San Felipe field.
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