INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Courageous Cat and jockey Patrick Valenzuela held off a charge from Caracortado and Joe Talamo to win the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile and take his first Grade 1 stakes on Saturday at Hollywood Park.
The even-money favorite in a field of six older horses, Courageous Cat sat second for most of the mile, took the lead coming out of the turn and won by a neck in 1:33.19. The win automatically earned a spot in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Mile in November at Churchill Downs.
Later in the day’s other Grade 1 stakes, the $250,000 Triple Bend Handicap, Smiling Tiger led from gate to wire for an easy win, beating Camp Victory by 314 lengths and covering seven furlongs in 1:21.22.
Smiling Tiger paid $5.40, $4 and $2.80. Camp Victory paid $2.60. The favorite, Amazombie, was a well-beaten third and paid $2.60 to show.
