Cash Call delivered on the hype June 7, outfinishing stablemate Howin to the wire to give trainer Bob Baffert a 1-2 finish in the $100,000 Summertime Oaks (G3) at Santa Anita Park.
Exiting back-to-back victories for CSLR Racing Partners, Cash Call stepped up against a short field of five in her black-type debut. Taking back under jockey Juan Hernandez, the McKinzie filly rated willingly in third in her first start around two turns, content to let Howin establish early fractions of :23.50 and :47.54. As the field passed the six-furlong marker, Cash Call closed the gap between herself and the leader, sweeping three wide and launching her assault with a quarter-mile to go.
Howin, third in the Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) in March, dug in gallantly but couldn't fend off her barnmate, who secured the victory by three-quarters of a length.
Cash Call returned $3 as the 1-2 post time favorite. She completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.62 over a fast main track.
Howin was a clear runner-up by four lengths over Our Moonlight in third.
Bred by Brent and Beth Harris in Kentucky, Cash Call is one of six winners produced by the D'Wildcat mare D'Fashion, who is also responsible for multiple stakes winner Strategic Dreams. Cash Call was purchased for $600,000 out of this year's Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training from the Eddie Woods consignment.
Thought Process, a graded stakes winner on the turf, and the Baffert-trained Silent Law were scratched out of the Summertime Oaks Saturday morning.
