San Mateo Kat wins featured turf allowance race at Remington Park

Pick Pony | Oct. 13, 2024, 9:33 p.m.

San Mateo Kat and jockey Floyd Wethey, Jr., took the outside route and it made all the difference Friday night as she won the featured turf allowance race.

While Wethey and San Mateo Kat had clear sailing down the middle of the track in the one-mile race on the lawn, leading rider Stewart Elliott took Missingyoucrazy to the inside and had to bide his time behind a couple of horses before the rail opened up for him. San Mateo Kat built her momentum and rolled to the wire a winner.

San Mateo Kat had been knocking on the door in her past four races, finishing second twice and third in events leading up to this. Elliott had ridden San Mateo Kat in both starts at this meet, but opted for Missingyoucrazy (9-5 second wagering favorite), who held on for second, another 1-1/4 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Skyview Drive (8-1). The 8-5 betting favorite, Flyin Withthe Boss finished last in a field of six.

San Mateo Kat’s winning time was 1:37.48 over the firm course. She cut into early fractions set by the speed duel on the front end between Skyview Drive and Flyin Withthe Boss. Skyview Drive’s interior times were :23.46 for the first quarter-mile, :47.55 for the half-mile, 1:12.32 for six furlongs and 1:24.97 after seven-eighths of a mile. San Mateo Kat made the lead with about a sixteenth of a mile remaining.

San Mateo Kat, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly owned and trained by Sarah Davidson, earned $20,949 for her from the $35,000 purse. This daughter of West Coast, out of the City Zip mare Run Away’s Sis, came flying from fifth to pass nearly all her competitors to get up by 1-1/4 lengths. She was sent off at 4-1 odds and paid $10.60 to win, $3.60 to place and $3 to show across the board. The filly was bred by Welbourne Stud. Her winnings Friday night improved her record to 22 starts, four wins, five seconds and three thirds for $79,208 in her bankroll.

San Mateo Kat was the third win of the night for Wethey and he recaptured second place in the jockeys standings. He also won aboard Macho Grande ($4.60) in race four and Enchanted Nile ($2.80) in race seven. Enchanted Nile was part of a dead-heat win in the seventh race with War Music.

Wethey now has 27 wins for the season, 23 behind Elliott who leads with 50. Elliott was shut out of the winner’s circle for the second night in a row, the only time that has happened this meet. 

Hernandez Approaching 1,000 US Wins
 Jockey Harry Hernandez picked up one win on Friday at Remington Park, after scoring a riding triple on Thursday, Oct. 10. His Friday triumph came on Mister Beams ($2.20) in the third race.

The victory for Hernandez was his 992nd riding in the United States, after he arrived he from his native Puerto Rico in 2015.

Currently, Hernandez has 25 wins on the Remington Park season, good for a tie for third in the jockey standings behind Stewart Elliott (50) and Floyd Wethey, Jr. (27). Hernandez shares third with Jose Alvarez.