All Square Eddie Exacta in Del Mar's CTBA Stakes

Reddam Racing’s uncommonly quick Sprouts, the 2-5 favorite under regular rider Mario Gutierrez, stepped to the lead in the first sixteenth of a mile and kept on going to win the featured $100,000 C.T.B.A. Stakes for California-bred two-year-old fillies Friday.

Sprouts held a narrow margin entering the stretch and then drew away in the final furlong to tally by 1 ¼ lengths in 1:05.01 for the 5 ½ furlongs on the main track.

Eddies Curl, a 19-1 outsider and, like the winner, owned by Reddam Racing and trained by Edward Freeman, finished second,  3 ¾ lengths in front of third-place Say’s Who. Time for Angie was fourth in the field of seven fillies. Smoove It was scratched from the original line-up.       

The stewards conducted an inquiry concerning the start when eventual runner-up Eddies Curl swerved inward after the break, bothering two foes. However, the stewards ruled the incident did not warrant a disqualification.

Sprouts, a daughter of  Square Eddie, was scoring her third win in four starts and first money of $57,000 increased the filly’s earnings to $149,240. She won the Cinderella Stakes a month ago at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Sprouts paid $2.80, $2.40 and $2.10. Eddies Curl returned $7.60 and $4.40, while Say’s Who paid $3.20 to show.

Rafael Bejarano, a winner of  four races Thursday, continued to be the hot rider, booting in three winners, Space Runner at $8 in the second, Hard Buns at $6 in the fourth and Surfcup at $6.60 in the sixth.

Also tripling today was jockey Martin Garcia, with My Slew at $12.40 in the third, Hot Bride at $9.40 in the fifth and Brannaman at $7.60 in the eighth and final race of the afternoon.

Trainer Bob Baffert saddled three winners, Hot Bride, Surfcup and Brannaman.