NEWS
Cry and Catch Me gives Baffert another Oak Leaf win
Posted: Saturday, September 29, 2007 8:22 PM
CRY AND CATCH ME (inside)
Benoit & Associates photo
by Steve Bailey
Nita Connelly’s Cry and Catch Me won her second consecutive start and first career graded stakes race on Saturday to give trainer Bob Baffert his seventh victory in the past 11 runnings of the Oak Leaf Stakes (G1) for two-year-old fillies at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park.
Baffert previously won the Oak Leaf with Vivid Angel (1997), Excellent Meeting ('98), Chilukki ('99), Notable Career (2000), Composure ('02), and Diamond Omi ('05).
“It looks like she can go two turns now,” Baffert said. “You never know until they do it. You know? I just wanted her to jump out there. She’s fit and she was ready. I’m glad I had her fit. I was worried about Ron McAnally’s filly [Izarra].”
The Golden Noodle jumped out to the early lead but soon was overtaken by Cry and Catch Me as the 11-horse field moved onto the backstretch. Cry and Catch Me, the 7-to-5 favorite ridden with confidence by Racing Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, took the field through a half-mile in :46.55 and a mile in 1:36.16 while holding a one-length lead in early stretch.
Driving with determination down the lane, Cry and Catch Me held off a late charge by Izarra down the middle of the track to prevail by a nose, completing 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.91 on the all-weather Cushion Track surface.
“Today, she was on the lead for the first time and she was comfortable there, but from the three-eighths pole home, she was looking around,” Smith said. “She showed a lot of heart and I stayed after her to keep her focused. Down the road, I think she’ll be better off with a target.”
Runforthemoneybaby was third, another 1 1/2 lengths back.
Cry and Catch Me finished second to Oak Tree challenger Tasha’s Miracle in her career debut in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race on July 1 at Hollywood Park. She rebounded to win by 6 1/4 lengths at the same distance on August 26 at Del Mar.
Bred in Kentucky by Hurstland Farm and William Kartozian, Cry and Catch Me has earned $191,000.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times
