Tortosa rallies to win Alcatraz Stakes
An improving horse with a pedigree to love the turf produced the biggest victory of trainer Jose Bautista’s career as Tortosa rallied from last place and won the $75,000 Alcatraz Stakes on Sunday at Golden Gate Fields.
Tortosa ran second twice in four sprints as a 2-year-old before stretching out to 11/16 miles Jan. 28 for another runner-up finish. He broke his maiden Feb. 18 and won an allowance event April 6.
Those races were on Golden Gate Fields’ synthetic main track, but as a son of Irish-bred Cape Blanco out of a Lemon Drop Kid mare, Tortosa figured to prefer the grass.
“I’m so happy for the horse because he’s been running better and better,” jockey Catalino Martinez said.