INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 21, 2007) - Favorite Curiously Sweet overcame a slow start to post her third straight victory with Patrick Valenzuela up in Friday's $107,200 Cat's Cradle Handicap at Hollywood Park.
The victory was the third in a stakes race at the Autumn Meet for John Sadler, who has already clinched leading trainer honors with 21 wins entering Saturday's closing program.
Curiously Sweet, a 3-year-old daughter of Mud Route, covered 7 ½ furlongs on Cushion Track in 1:28.15 while paying $3.20, $2.40 and $2.10. Kalookan Year returned $4.20 and $3.20, while the show payoff on Fun Logic was $5.
"The three-horse (Fun Logic) kind of came over on her a little at the start," Valenzuela said. "I had to grab her for a moment, but she got right into the race on her own and was well in hand the whole way. I had to make a move at the half-mile pole because I didn't want to be stuck on the inside. When I asked her in the stretch she picked it up nice. Never had to hit her."
Curiously Sweet, claimed for $40,000 from her first start, won for the fourth time in seven races. The winner's share of $67,200 raised her earnings to $207,600.
Trainer Marty Jones saddled three winners on the card - High Standards ($39) in the third race, Waafi ($30.20) in the seventh and Captain Sacto ($21) in the eighth.
