Carlsbad rolls in Rancho Bernardo

Last updated: 9/5/09 2:43 PM

Carlsbad got back on the winning track at
Del Mar
(Benoit Photos)

Dennis Weir’s homebred CARLSBAD (Rocky Bar) drew off leaving the far turn and
cruised to the wire in Friday night’s $200,000
Rancho
Bernardo H. (G3), improving her stellar overall record to 9-7-1-0 with the
four-length decision. Jockey Tyler Baze, who had been sidelined for eight racing
days due to a broken pinky finger on his left hand, made his first start back
aboard the classy three-year-old filly sprinter, who established a new track
record when completing 6 1/2 furlongs over Del Mar’s Polytrack in 1:14.93. The 7-5 choice returned $4.80, $3.40 and $2.60 to her many fans.

Carlsbad held a head advantage over Moon de French (Malibu Moon) through reasonable early
splits of :22 4/5 and :45 2/5 before asserting herself, and the Jeff
Mullins-trained dark bay rebounded from the only unplaced effort of her career,
the August 1 San Clemente H. (G2). That race came around two turns on the turf,
and Carlsbad is one of the leading contenders for this year’s Breeders’ Cup
Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).

Lady Lumberjack (Forestry) completed the sophomore exacta, rallying from
midpack for runner-up honors, and the 5-1 third choice paid $4.80 and $3.80. It
was 2 1/2 lengths back to the four-year-old Golden Doc A (Unusual Heat), a 39-1
outsider who gave back $10.40 for show. The 16-1 Ashley’s Kitty (Tale of the
Cat) came next under the wire and was followed by She’s Cheeky (Black
Minnaloushe), 2-1 second choice Evita Argentina (Candy Ride [Arg]), So Long
Sonoma (American Chance), Moon de French and Stolen Heart (Ecton Park). The $1
exotics totaled $10.70 (exacta), $152.70 (trifecta) and $1,030.50 (8-4-1-6
superfecta).

From the first crop of her stakes-winning sire Rocky Bar, the Arizona-bred
winner opened her racing career at Turf Paradise, recording four impressive
victories, including a 19-length score in the Arizona Juvenile Fillies and a 13
1/4-length win in the Arizona Oaks. Transferred to Mullins earlier this year,
she immediately made a splash in Southern California, winning the 6 1/2-furlong
Santa Paula S. (G3) by 3 1/4 lengths, and even stretched out to 1 1/16 miles to
capture the Hollywood Oaks (G2) on June 7. Her only loss sprinting was a second
to Witty (Distorted Humor) in the Railbird S. (G3).

Carlsbad is out of multiple stakes winner Kits Peak (Pine Bluff), who also
produced the 2006 Arizona Fillies Breeders’ Futurity and 2007 Arizona Oaks
queen, Staten Island (In Excess [Ire]). Carlsbad, who has a yearling half-sister
named Three Forks (Benton Creek) and juvenile half-sister called Knoxville (In
Excess), comes from the same family as French champion
and 1984 Prix de Diane (Fr-G1) winner Northern Trick (Northern Dancer); Magazine
(Prince John), heroine of the 1973 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1); and 1977
Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) victor On the Sly (*Roi Dagobert).

Also included in the family are 1978 Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Alabama S. (G1)
winner White Star Line (Northern Dancer) as well as Grade 2 victress Fairway
Flyer (Nashua), who was third in the 1972 Kentucky Oaks.

Carlsbad has now earned $387,126.