CATTAIL COVE WINS AZURE THREE WHILE MAKING 20TH STAKES APPEARANCE
Link Newcomb’s Cattail Cove was tremendous in the second half of the $20,000 Azure Three Stakes on Saturday at Los Alamitos, flying down the lane to catch Katella Avenue while also holding off Mister Tornado to become a multiple graded stakes winner in his 20th career start in a stakes race.
Cattail Cove was last after a slow start in the Azure Three and appeared to have no chance to win after the first 100 yards. However, never say never when Ramon Sanchez, the all-time leading stakes winning rider at Los Alamitos, is at the controls, as Cattail Cove started rolling at the midway point of the 400-yard dash. The Juan Aleman-trainee got closer and closer to the leaders with each stride and with 100 yards to go, it was clear to see that there would be no denying the gelding by Favorite Cartel in the Azure Three. At the wire, Cattail Cove was a neck ahead of Mister Tornado, as he covered the distance in :19.954. This was Cattail Cove’s sixth career win in 32 career starts. The 5-year-old gelding has raced in either a stakes race or a trial for a stakes race in 30 of those 32 starts.
“He makes racing fun and always will,” Newcomb said. “He’s still at it, loves what he’s doing, and loves his job. He’ll be in the Z. Wayne Griffin Directors Trials in three weeks. I hope he runs a big race that night.”
The winner of the Grade 3 Independence Day Handicap earlier this year, Cattail Cove has also finished second in the 2019 Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity and has been third in the Governor’s Cup Futurity, fourth in the 2020 Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super Derby, third in the 2021 Grade 1 Go Man Go Handicap, and third in the 2022 Restricted Grade 1 Spencer Childers Championship Handicap. All in all, the Steve Burns-bred runner has finished third or better in 22 starts. Cattail Cove earned $11,000 for the win to take his career earnings to $580,182.
Fernando Flores’ Mister Tornado earned $4,500 for running second for jockey Henry Reynoso Lopez and trainer Felix Gonzalez. Katella Avenue, a half-brother to Cattail Cove, finished third. Ridden by Ruben Lozano for Vic3tory LLC, the Foose gelding earned $2,500 for his effort. Valentin Zamudio saddled Katie Katella. Gentleman Chuck and Up And Atem completed the field.
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