Coastal Strike Pulls Way to Generous Portion

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Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams' Coastal Strike, piloted by Del Mar's leading rider this summer, Tyler Baze, made it two-for-two in her brief career Wednesday with a wire-to-wire victory in the featured $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes for 2-year-old California-bred fillies.

Coastal Strike, who defeated male juveniles when breaking her maiden July 23, took command shortly after the start, set a fast pace and, despite appearing to tire in the final sixteenth, was able to hold off the fast-closing Memorette to win by a half-length.

"She broke flying," said Baze, who won his sixth stakes of the meeting. "She broke so quick I almost lost my inside stirrup. Then she went to lugging out a little bit on me. I had my whip in my left hand. I always have it in the left when they come out and go by that gap (to the main track on his left), just in case. So I switched it to my right and tapped her and she straightened right out. She ran hard but she was really tired at the finish."

Excessively Nice, the 3-5 favorite from the barn of trainer Bob Baffert, salvaged third place, a length behind the runner-up and a head in front of 32-1 longshot Short Route.

Coastal Strike, a filly by Smart Strike   trained by Clifford Sise Jr., ran the six furlongs in 1:10 3/5 and returned $5.60 as second choice in the betting. First money of $60,000 increased the filly's earnings to $89,520.

The early splits were :21.54, :44.60 and 57.09.

Baze, seeking his first Del Mar saddle championship, remained three ahead of his closest pursuer, Corey Nakatani, 49-46.

Because there were no perfect tickets in the Pick Six today, there will be a carryover of $160,854 on Thursday's program.

(Chart, Equibase)

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