By DRF.com
ALBANY, Calif. (Nov. 8, 2014) — Even-money favorite Stalk the Wildcat proved his superiority in the stretch as he scored a five-length victory in the $62,755 Golden Nugget Stakes for 2-year-olds on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.
Stalk the Wildcat ($4), a Tommy Town Thoroughbreds Ministers Wild Cat homebred, ran second in a $32,000 maiden claimer in his debut before winning his maiden by three lengths in his second start.
Cartoonist, a six-length winner on the same day Stalk the Wildcat scored his maiden win, led Rainsford down the backstretch and around the turn of the six-furlong race as Stalk the Wildcat was fifth ahead of only one rival in the early going.
As Cartoonist maintained his margin at the quarter pole, Stalk the Wildcat was moving up while three wide and in the clear turning for home. He easily passed the leader by the eighth pole and continued to increase his lead through the stretch, winning in 1:10.31, only .05 of a second slower than older stakes-type fillies and mares earlier on the card.
“He trains very slow, but he has perfect form,” said winning jockey Ricardo Gonzalez. “I’ve always liked this horse. He relaxes very good and then, just as you get to the quarter pole, he takes off.
“I was loaded in the stretch. He won easy. I don’t think he’s even tired.”
Cartoonist was second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of Rainsford, who refused to let Bluegrass Sight pass him in winning a photo for third. Bluegrass Sight overcame early trouble after breaking from the rail.
The Jerry Hollendorfer-trained Stalk the Wildcat earned $39,350 for his first stakes victory. He has earned $62,630.
The Golden Nugget is the first in a series of races leading up to the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby. The next race in the series is the $75,000 Gold Rush at one mile on Dec. 6.
For Stalk the Wildcat’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/stalk+the+wildcat.