From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (June 10, 2023) — There looks to be a bright future ahead for Pushiness following her 6 ½-length debut win here Friday going five furlongs against California-breds for top owner Mike Repole.
Bred by Richard Barton Enterprises and trained by Michael McCarthy, Pushiness was bet down to the 1-5 favorite for her belated debut. The daughter of Kantharos was previously entered here on May 20 in a similar statebred maiden race. She had to be scratched after hitting a wood rail in the saddling enclosure, resulting in a minor abrasion to her chest. She was back on the work tab five days later.
On Friday, Pushiness broke alertly under Santa Anita leading rider Juan Hernandez
and went the opening quarter mile in 21.85 seconds. She extended her lead to five lengths through a half mile in 45.68 before crossing the wire in a final time of 58.66 seconds. Four races earlier, the 2-year-old Cal-bred Stay Quiet won a similar maiden race in a time of 1:00.01.
McCarthy on Sunday said Pushiness was “in good order.” He also beamed over the effort.
“That was an exemplary performance,” McCarthy said. “She’s been ready to run for quite some time and we were confident she would run well.”
Pushiness is among several 2-year-old California-breds owned by New York-based Repole and trained by McCarthy. She was purchased by Repole for $115,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings and Horses of All Ages Sale at Fairplex Park.
McCarthy is now eyeing two stakes in August at Del Mar for Pushiness’s next start: the CTBA, for statebred fillies going 5 ½ furlongs Aug. 6 and GIII Sorrento at six furlongs on Aug. 13.
“Too early to make plans, but hopefully she trains well and gets to either of the two,” he added.