(from Woodbine report)
Fearless Cowboy, ridden by Slade Callaghan, rustled up his first-added money win when he defeated favored Who's Big Daddy in Woodbine's $139,149 Colin Stakes for 2-year-olds July 18 (VIDEO).
The Gulf Coast Farms homebred colt dueled into the stretch, took the lead a furlong out, and then fought off a determined Who's Big Daddy for the neck score, the second of his career from four starts. It was also the first stakes win for trainer Sandra Dominguez.
Who’s Big Daddy, winner of this year’s Clarendon Stakes, finished second with James McAleney aboard . Always Wildcatin’ and Luis Contreras finished third.
Fearless Cowboy, who traveled six furlongs in 1:10.88, rated off early splits of :22.11 and :45.39 set by Solve the Code before taking a lead he would not relinquish under steady handling.
"Today we had the outside,” said Callaghan. “There was other speed in there. He relaxed really nicely for me today. Sandy changed things up and did a fantastic job with this colt."
Dominguez was proud of the big effort from the dark bay son of El Corredor.
"It's pretty exciting for me--my first stakes win,” she said. “We trained him a little bit differently. He trained this morning. He just went out to the sand ring for a little jog. We trained a little bit more because last time he was a bit sharp."
The Kentucky-bred finished fifth in his career bow April 26 before breaking his maiden in his next start, a 1 1/4-length triumph at 4 1/2 furlongs May 24.
One month ago Fearless Cowboy finished second in the five-furlong Victoria Stakes in his tune-up for the Colin.
“I thought halfway down the lane he could have been beaten," Callaghan said. "He saw the other horse on the outside. He dug in and fought and wasn't going to let that one by at all. Some 2-year-olds don't have that too often. This guy is special."
Fearless Cowboy paid $8.30, $3.90, and $2.70, combining with Who’s Big Daddy ($2.90, $2.20) for a $20.60 exacta. Always Wildcatin’ ($2.80) completed a $66.50 trifecta.
The winner is out of the Forest Wildcat mare Fearless Wildcat.