By DRF.com
PLEASANTON, Calif. (July 7, 2022) – Boys beware. California-bred Electric Lettuce is ready for her stakes debut in Saturday’s $75,000 Everett Nevin Stakes at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Calif., even if it means racing against males in her second start.
“This is a logical step for us, outside of waiting for the race at Del Mar,” trainer Blaine Wright said Thursday. “Let’s see what she has to offer. It’s always better to race than work.”
Electric Lettuce, a Cal-bred filly owned by the Roth family’s LNJ Foxwoods stable, is well suited for the $125,000 CTBA Stakes for 2-year-old statebred fillies on Aug. 7 at Del Mar.
She fits with the field for the Nevin Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs, too. The Nevin is the first stakes for juveniles in Northern California this year.
By Straight Fire, Electric Lettuce won her debut at 2-5 by four lengths in a maiden special weight race for fillies at five furlongs on June 11 at Golden Gate Fields. Electric Lettuce led throughout and pulled away to win by 4 1/2 lengths.
In the filly’s recent workouts, Wright has focused on teaching Electric Lettuce to have a more patient approach. A three-furlong workout on June 25 at Pleasanton was disrupted by a loose horse, but a five-furlong workout in 1:01.60 last Saturday was more encouraging, Wright said.
Jockey Evin Roman, who has the mount Saturday, worked Electric Lettuce last Saturday.
“He got her to relax in her work,” Wright said.
Still, Electric Lettuce is expected to be forward in the Nevin Stakes, which drew a field of nine.
“We don’t want to turn her into a burner,” Wright said. “We hope that horses learn to take a deep breath. It’s better when you know they have the speed and you know they can sit off them.”
Electric Lettuce is one of three fillies in the field. The others are Vegas Strong, the sharp winner of a maiden special weight race in her debut June 11 at Santa Anita for trainer Doug O’Neill, and Fumano’s Girl, a Cal-bred who won a maiden-special race at Golden Gate Fields on May 27 for trainer Michael Lenzini.
Breeder-owner Tommy Town Thoroughbreds’ Cal-bred colt Man Oh Man won his debut in a maiden special weight race at five furlongs on June 12 at Golden Gate Fields, stalking the pace before taking the lead in the final furlong. Trainer Jonathan Wong said he would like to see Man Oh Man near the front in the Nevin, following Electric Lettuce or leading if the filly does not zip away early.
“Ideally, I’d like to see him on it or right off it,” Wong said. “He showed he can rate. He’s taken a bunch of dirt and he’s handled it well.
“He should be competitive.”
The other Cal-breds:
Good N Thirsty is by Stay Thirsty, out of the Storm Wolf mare Vegas Bound, was bred by Terry Lovingier, is owned by 4 Hares Racing or Lovingier and is trained by Walther Solis. He has one win in two starts, earnings of $40,700 and is coming off an eighth in the June 18 Fasig-Tipton Futurity.
Passarando is by Tamarando, out of the Lucky Pulpit mare I’m Passing Ya Now, was bred by owners Mr. & Mrs. Larry Williams and is trained by Steve Specht. He has one win in two starts, earnings of $31,200 and is coming off a May 28 maiden win.
Stolen Vote is by Far From Over, out of the Comic Strip mare Nada Joke, was bred by owners Dr. & Mrs. William Gray and is trained by Felix Rondan. He is a maiden making his second start.