August, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Prat Get Three Stakes Wins Saturday, Increases Lead In Del Mar Jockey Standings

A backstretch confab between jockey Flavien Prat and agent Brad Pegram was interrupted this morning with an impertinent question: “Would you consider Saturday's results adequate?”

Pegram laughed. Prat smiled and gave the day an upgraded rating of “good.”

Good if that's what you consider victories in the first three of five stakes on the program – aboard Private Mission, Mo Forza and Going Global — and a runner-up in the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic with Tizamagician at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.

“I messed up the last race (fourth in the Del Mar Handicap on favored United),” Prat allowed. “But in the Classic, I had a good trip and just got beaten in the last part.”

The three stakes victories increased Prat's total to 10 for the meeting. He holds the record for a season of 14, established last year. There are 11 stakes remaining at the meeting but Prat will miss the next two, Friday's $80,000 Tranquility Lake and Saturday's $200,000 Grade 2 Pat O'Brien while on assignment at Saratoga.

The two stakes Saturday that Prat didn't win, went to riders whose success was heartwarming to many. Tiago Pereira, who had started the meeting 0-for-48, drew high praise from trainer John Sadler and owner Kostas Hronis for his ride on Tripoli in the Classic. Hall of Famer Victor Espinoza, seemingly overlooked in the focus on younger talent, guided Astronaut ($50.00) to the Del Mar Handicap score.

“It makes me happy to win this race for John Shirreffs,” said Espinoza, who won the Triple Crown with American Pharoah in 2015. “He's always been there for me and I've been there for him. He's been there for me a little more lately.”

Prat has a 31-23 lead over Juan Hernandez and Abel Cedillo in the overall standings, seeking his third straight riding title and fourth in the last five years.

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Mo Forza Gets Emotional Del Mar Mile Victory

Mo Forza repeated as race champion in his first start in more than 10 months, recording his third Grade 2 victory in a row, edging out Smooth Like Strait by a head in the final strides.

“I was worried if I had him fit enough, I really was,” trainer Peter Miller said. “But he's a champion and he's got that heart of a champion. I'm just glad I had him fit enough. Just enough.”

Mo Forza was owned by the late Barry Abrams, a highly-respected trainer/owner/breeder on the Southern California circuit for many years who died last October after a 15-year battle with cancer.

“I've never had a horse that brought so much emotion to me,” Miller said. “Just seeing him in the barn, I think of Barry. The horse is special, big time.”

Smooth Like Strait was the first of two runner-up efforts for trainees of Mike McCarthy, who sent out stable newcomer Master Piece in the Del Mar Handicap.

“They both came back well and we're happy with the efforts,” McCarthy said.

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D’Amato Sees ‘No Rush’ In Planning Going Global’s Next Race

The one-length victory by Going Global over Closing Remarks was the fifth stakes win in six starts this year since the Irish-bred 3-year-old filly was imported to trainer Phil D'Amato's barn. It avenged her lone defeat, by a half-length to Madone in the San Clemente Stakes here on July 24.

“She's just special,” D'Amato said in the immediate aftermath. “She takes on every challenge we give her and keeps on going.”

This morning, D'Amato said there's no rush to come up with another challenge.

“We don't have any goals in particular in the near future,” D'Amato said. “There's an Oaks at the end of the year, but between now and then, we'll just play it by ear, let her tell us when she's ready to go and then find her a good spot.”

Carla Gaines, trainer of second-place finisher Closing Remarks, said with a laugh that she hoped Going Global's next would be “somewhere else” than against her filly.

“(Closing Remarks') effort was huge, in my opinion, but she got trapped inside and couldn't get out until late,” Gaines said. “We'll see how she comes out of this and go from there. I just wish Going Global would go somewhere else. We can't beat her.”

The Del Mar Oaks was the third runner-up effort behind Going Global for Closing Remarks this year.

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Sadler Reveling In Third Pacific Classic Win

TVG Pacific Classic upset winner Tripoli ($15.00) was asleep in his stall at mid-morning. Trainer John Sadler was inclined to leave the 1 ¼-length winner over Tizamagician undisturbed, calling it a “good sign,” while reflecting on what was a third TVG Pacific Classic victory for Sadler and Hronis racing in the last four years.

“I'm in the latter part of my career and when you can win these big races, I feel very blessed,” Sadler said. “I'm not that old, I'm 65, but I've been around a long time and I don't feel like I'm in the middle part of my career, whether there's two, five or 10 years left to go.”

As a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar on November 6, Tripoli is now assured a spot in the champion-making race Sadler and Hronis won in 2018 with Accelerate.

Campaign planning for Tripoli going forward will be put on hold at least temporarily.

“We'll see how Rock Your World runs next Sunday ($100,000 Shared Belief Stakes), they might be candidates for the same race,” Sadler said. “(Tripoli) could run once (before the Classic) or… whatever.”

For the stable of Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, the momentum of victories by Forbidden Kingdom (4^th race, $10.60) and Subconscious (5^th, $13.60) didn't carry over to the stakes. Tizamagician led for the first mile of the 1 ¼-mile Classic before yielding to Tripoli and his Royal Ship, the second wagering choice at just under 3-1, was a no-factor seventh.

“A pretty good day, you're never going to complain if you win two races on the day,” said Gary Mandella, deputizing for his father. “We had a really good second in the Classic with Tizamagician, but Royal Ship is a bit of a mystery. We don't know what went on with him except maybe the year has been a little bit tiring on him. We'll listen to him and figure him out. He'll tell us what to do.”

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