DEL MAR, Calif. - The 4-year-old filly Pushiness was eager to start Saturday’s $120,500 Daisycutter Handicap at Del Mar.
A bit too much so.
With the field loaded, Pushiness surged toward the front of the gate. She recovered quickly and took the lead moments later when the race began.
The early advantage was vital. Starting from the outside post in a field of 10 fillies and mares, Pushiness led throughout under jockey Juan Hernandez, winning the five-furlong turf race by a nose over a fast-finishing Uncorked.
“She was ready to run,” Hernandez said. “Some horse on the inside moved and she was trying to take off. She hit the gate.
“She broke like a rocket and she loves to run on the lead. I was very comfortable. I was flying on the lead and that’s the way she goes.”
Pushiness set an early pace of 22.46 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.14 for a half-mile, leading by as much as two lengths. The advantage dwindled through the final furlong. Had the race been five furlongs and a yard, the result may have been different.
“She was there for me,” Hernandez said. “It was a little tight. I’ll take the win.”
The second choice, Pushiness ($6.60) was timed in 56.88 seconds and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 86.
Uncorked (9-2) closed from fourth and finished three-quarters of a length in front of 64-1 Visually, the longest shot in the field.
The remaining order of finish was Imaboutago, Lovin’ On the Run, Granny Budgie, Ang N Ash, Schilified, Chismosa and Spicybug.
Imaboutago was 9-2 as the field was being loaded and went off as the 2-1 favorite. She raced behind Pushiness for the first half-mile before fading to lose by 1 1/4 lengths.
Pushiness, a California-bred by Kantharos, races for Mike Repole and trainer Michael McCarthy. The Daisycutter is Pushiness’s most prestigious win in her 11-race career, which includes five wins and earnings of $386,426. She won two stakes on dirt for statebred fillies at Del Mar earlier in her career – the CTBA Stakes for 2-year-olds in 2023 and the Fleet Treat Stakes last year.
The Daisycutter was her first win on turf in her fourth start on the surface.
After the race, McCarthy praised Hernandez’s efforts to keep Pushiness calm in the gate.
“That was fantastic,” McCarthy said of the result.
“She got a little rambunctious. Juan did a good job to get her composed really quick.”
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