Elite Thoroughbreds Graded Bet Winners and Freshman Males Red Catalina choose the first winner when his son Lauri’s Wish won the special girlhood weight class 7 1/2 longhair on December 23 at Delta Downs equal to 8 1/4 of the length.
A cross between Tony Lenci and Chad Stewart of Louisiana, Lauri’s Wish earned her second career win with a score of 1:36.54. He was ridden by Thomas Pompell and trained by Lee Thomas.
The pony was the first and only pony of Archarcharch’s daughter, Laurigolightly, who won the Tiger Belle bet (Tiger Ridge ). Stewart coached Laurigolightly for owner/raider Robert Roffey Jr. The mare was bred to Catalina Red this year.
Lenci raced against the Catalina Red, which he purchased at the Ocala Breeder’s Show in the spring of 2014 during the $71,000 Coaching Sale from de Meric Sales. The son of Munnings became a stake winner at 2 in Inaugural Shares and Pasco Shares, both at Tampa Bay Downs, won Jackson Bend Stakes at Gulfstream Park in 3rd place and in 4th place won the Churchill Downs Stakes (G2) and the Hilton Garden Inn / Hampton Inn and Suites Sprint Stakes in addition to placing third in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1). He retired with a 5-1-3 record from 13 starts and made $549,885. Stewart coached Catalina Red in his first nine games.
Catalina Red stands at Elite Thoroughbreds near Folsom, La., for $2,000 in 2022.
