Creative Instinct © Benoit Photo
Sent postward the 2-5 favorite under jockey Tyler Baze, Creative Instinct didn’t disappoint as she drew off in the stretch to win the featured $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes for California-bred two-year-old fillies Wednesday.
Creative Instinct, owned by Gary Barber and trained by Del Mar’s leading conditioner this summer, Peter Miller, shook loose from the first-time starting Mucho Unusual in upper stretch and went on to win by two and one-quarter lengths. Mucho Unusual, competing gamely in her career debut, held second by five and one-half lengths over Swing Thoughts, with Time for Suzzie fourth in the field of six fillies. Give Me a Hint was scratched.
Creative Instinct, a daughter of Creative Cause, ran the six furlongs in 1:12.24 and returned $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10 after notching her second win in as many starts. First money was $60,000. Mucho Unusual, who was ridden by Flavien Prat, paid $3 and $2.60, while Swing Thoughts returned $3.40.
`There were no perfect tickets in Wednesday’s Pick Six, so Thursday’s Pick Six will begin with a carryover of $39,053. Post time for the first race is 2 p.m.
TYLER BAZE (Creative Instinct, winner) – “She ran good. She’s a big filly; huge. With a long stride on her. She’s going to be so much better when they go two turns. Can’t wait for that. I’m having a heckuva summer. Best in a while. Working hard. So’s my agent (Craig O’Bryan). That’s how you get it done.”
FLAVIEN PRAT (Mucho Unusual, second) – “She ran an excellent race. First time. She really ran well.”
TYLER CONNER (Swing Thoughts, third) – “Good race for her. Good try.”
PETER MILLER (Creative Instinct, winner) – “The first-time starter (Mucho Unusual) ran a huge race and gave us a real battle, but I think Creative Cause’s experience and fitness paid off the last eighth of a mile. We’ll keep her against Cal-bred company for as long as we can, but she’s a quality filly. Once she won (her August 1 debut), the plan was to go in this stakes and it’s nice when a plan comes to fruition.“
FRACTIONS: :22.48 :46.03 :58.59 1:12.24
The stakes win was the seventh of the meet and second (Coastal Strike, 2004) in the Generous Portion for rider Baze. He now has 37 stakes wins at Del Mar. (Baze’s previous best season for stakes wins at Del Mar was 2004 when he also won seven.)
The stakes win was the fourth of the meet, but first in the Generous Portion for trainer Miller. He now has 23 stakes wins at Del Mar.
The winning owner is Gary Barber of Los Angeles, CA.