Placed in a perfect stalking position by jockey Stewart Elliott, You’re Late pounced on the front-runners turning into the stretch and drew off to an impressive victory in the featured $100,000 C.T.B.A. Stakes for California-bred two-year-old fillies Friday.

 

Running third in the early stages of the 5 ½ furlong sprint as Love a Honeybadger set a fast pace followed closely by 3-5 favorite My California, You’re Late rallied powerfully on the outside to take command and then cruised home to score by three and one-quarter lengths.

 

While no match for the winner, Love a Honeybadger held on gamely to be a clear second, three and one-quarter lengths in front of My California, who faltered in the stretch drive. Cioppino Pasadino and I’ll Be Around completed the field in fourth and fifth places.

 

You’re Late, a chestnut daughter of Lucky Pulpit bred and owned by Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams and trained by Jeff Bonde, sped the distance in 1:04.64 and returned $8.40, $4 and $2.20 as second choice in the betting. It was her second win in three starts and worth a prize of $57,000.

 

Love a Honeybadger, who went postward at 10-1, paid $6.60 and $2.80, while My California, the wagering choice on the basis of a nine and one-quarter triumph in a maiden race at Santa Anita, returned $2.10 to show.

 

Flavien Prat continued to be the hottest rider on the Del Mar scene as he booted in three winners Friday – Generous Pour at $23 in the first, With Honors at $6.20 in the fourth and Jonny’s Choice at $4.20 in the fifth. The triple increased his meet-leading total to 15.

 

Jockey Jamie Theriot, formerly based on the East coast and competing at Del Mar for the first time, broke through with his initial seaside winner, Chicago Angel at $13.60 in the third and made it a double aboard Out Of the Ordinary in the sixth at $20.60.

 

Racing resumes Saturday with first post at 2 p.m. Headlining the ten-race program will be the brilliant Beholder in the featured Grade I $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes.

 

 

STEWART ELLIOTT (You’re Late, winner)  -- “She’s a nice filly. I liked the post today (No. 5 in a five-horse field). You can play it as it lays in a spot like that. She ran well and I think she’ll stretch out.  It’s fun being here at Del Mar again (he rode here previously only in 2014). It’s even more fun when your business is good.”

 

JAMIE THERIOT (Love a Honeybadger, second) – “She’s a fast filly. She put blinkers on today and that really got her focused. She’s a good one.”

 

TYLER BAZE (My California, third) – “She just wasn’t fast enough.”

JEFF BONDE (You’re Late, winner) “She’s not a big filly, kind of medium-sized, but she’s always done everything right. Her first start she got off a step slow and got beat, but she came back and ran a real nice race her second start holding off California Chrome’s full sister (R Sunday Surprise). She’s trained real well down here, got a great trip on the outside and she has rewarded us again. I really think it was a great situation for any young horse to have that post. A great situation. ”

 

FRACTIONS:  :21.66  :45.38  :58.00  1:04.64

 

The stakes win was the first of the meet for rider Elliott and his first in the CTBA Stakes. He now has two stakes wins at Del Mar. (The other was in the 2014 Best Pal Stakes on Skyway.)

 

The stakes win was the first of the meet for trainer Bonde, but his third in the CTBA Stakes. He now has nine stakes wins at Del Mar.