SENSIBLE CAT ROLLS LATE TO TAKE $72,000 SANTA ANITA HILLSIDE ALLOWANCE FEATURE BY A NECK, GETTING ABOUT 6 ½ FURLONGS ON TURF IN 1:13.16

CALIFORNIA-BRED EARNS $56,160, WHICH INCLUDES 20 PERCENT BONUS

                ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 28, 2022)–Unhurried early, Irvin Racing’s California-bred Sensible Cat rallied late to take Friday’s $72,000 Santa Anita allowance feature by a neck under Juan Hernandez.  Trained by Carla Gaines, the 4-year-old daughter of Bluegrass Cat got about 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in 1:13.16.

Breaking from post position two in a field of seven older fillies and mares, Sensible Cat was in-hand early and approaching the quarter pole, was about four lengths off early leader Irish-bred Spirit of Bermuda while next to last.

Full of run and five-wide at the dirt crossing turning for home, Sensible Cat put in a solid late finish in an effort that will likely propel her back into stakes competition.

“I think we might have discovered a new dimension for her down the hill,” said Gaines, who indicated she would look for a stakes race for Sensible Cat’s next assignment.  “These races down the hill were not available to us last year, so this is great.”

Third three starts back in the Grade III Providencia Stakes and most recently a fast closing second at the same second condition allowance level coming down the hill on Jan. 7, Sensible Cat was off as the second choice at 2-1 and paid $6.60, $3.40 and $2.60.

“That’s how she runs in her good races, she makes that big run,” said Hernandez.  “Today, she broke a little slow, but she was happy…As soon as we crossed the dirt, she took off and she was ready.”

Bred in California by C-Punch Ranch, Inc., Sensible Cat is out of the Street Sense mare Sensible Girl.  With a 20 percent California-bred bonus $12,960, Sensible Cat banked a total of $56,160, running her earnings to $232,220.  A California-bred stakes winner at age two, her overall mark stands at 9-4-1-1.

Ridden patiently by Joe Bravo, Irish-bred Royal Address fired big through the lane and just missed in a big effort.  Off at 7-2, she finished a neck better than Spirit of Bermuda and paid $4.40 and $3.60.

Ridden by Tyler Baze, Spirit of Bermuda stayed gamely, finishing 1 ¼ lengths in front of longshot Miss Fia.  Off at 9-2, Spirit of Bermuda paid $3.40 to show.

Fractions on the race were 22.05, 44.29 and 1:07.04.

Racing resumes with first post time for a nine-race card that will include three graded stakes on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.  Admission gates open at 10:30 a.m