Tag: Del Mar Derby

Top Three From Bumpy La Jolla Reconvene in Del Mar Derby

The first three across the wire in a rough-and-tumble renewal of Del Mar's GIII La Jolla H. which resulted in a disqualification will have another go at each other in a full-gate 14-horse renewal of the GII Del Mar Derby Saturday at the seaside oval.

A nose in front at the line in the La Jolla was Yuesheng Zhang's Sword Zorro (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), but his errant path was guaranteed to cost him and he ended up placed third. Prior to that, the bay captured the Singletary S. Apr. 25 at Santa Anita and was second in the Cinema S. there May 23. Elevated into the victory was Red Barons Barn and Rancho Temescal's Zoffarelli (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who was making his North American debut after winning just one of seven starts–albeit with five seconds–in Great Britain. Bumped up from third to second was rail-drawn Hudson Ridge (American Pharoah). Breaking his maiden in the Cinema, he had repeated in an Arcadia allowance/optional claimer June 18 before being bounced around and cost a chance at the victory as the 17-10 favorite in the La Jolla.

The top four horses from a blanket finish in the local Oceanside S. return here as well. Flashiest (Mizzen Mast) rallied from last to first to get up by a head at 12-1, continuing an ascent from starting his career against $30,000 maiden optional claimers at Turf Paradise, but the gelding was rank early and retreated to last when shipped across the country for a try in the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational S. last out. Hronis Racing's Crew Dragon (Exaggerator) was runner-up in the Columbia S. earlier this year for Bill Mott and followed up his second in the Oceanside with a local allowance/optional claiming score Aug. 12. Third was 39-1 longshot No Foolery Here (Carpe Diem), making his first start against winners after breaking his maiden on the Santa Anita turf May 29, while Hockey Dad (Nyquist), second to Crew Dragon Aug. 12, filled the superfecta, beaten just a half-length.

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Pair Of Graded Grass Stakes Headline Saturday Card At Del Mar

Two graded grass stakes – both at a mile and one-eighth out of the track's unique angled infield chute — will highlight an 11-race card scheduled for Saturday afternoon at Del Mar – the Grade 2, $250,000 Caesars Sportsbook Del Mar Derby and the Grade 2, $200,000 John C. Mabee Stakes.

The Saturday program will have a first post a half hour earlier than normal – 1:30 instead of 2 p.m. – and that will be the case also with Sunday's and Monday's cards during the Labor Day weekend. The Mabee, which is Race 9 on the Saturday card, will go off at approximately 5:30 and the Derby will be the day's nitecap and run at approximately 6:30.

The Derby has drawn 14 runners and is, of course, for 3-year-olds as the culminating event in the track's turf triple for sophomores, having been preceded by the Runhappy Oceanside Stakes and the Grade 3 La Jolla Stakes.

The first three finishers in both of those “prep” races are back to give it a go in this 77th edition of the Derby, which makes for a delicious mix. And the fact that Del Mar's morning line maker, Jon White, has made his favorite a very tepid 9/2 tells you that the race looms wide open with a thrilling finish likely to decide the winner.

The Mabee has drawn nine fillies and mares for its 64th running and it, too, appears to be the kind of race where contention runs deep. LNJ Foxwoods' Dogtag has been made a slight 3-1 favorite over Slam Dunk Racing, Stable Currency and Branham's Maxim Rate at 7/2.

Here are the fields for the two features from the rail out with riders and morning line odds:

Caesars Sportsbook Del Mar Derby

  1. Double L Racing or Baffert's Hudson Ridge (Flavien Prat, 9/2)
  2. Holly and David Wilson's Barraza (Kent Desormeaux, 12-1)
  3. Reddam Racing's Hockey Dad (Mario Gutierrez, 8-1)
  4. Downstream Racing's None Above the Law (Joe Bravo, 12-1)
  5. Sayjay Racing's No Foolery Here (Giovanni Franco, 8-1)
  6. STD Racing Stable, Kenly or Miller, et al's Optimistic Valor (Edwin Maldonado, 30-1)
  7. Perry or Ramona Bass' Petruchio (Mike Smith, 20-1)
  8. Sterling Stables, Nentwig or CYBT's Cathkin Peak (Jose Valdivia, Jr., 12-1)
  9. Red Barons Barn or Rancho Temescal's Zoffarelli (Drayden Van Dyke, 6-1)
  10. Bruno, Gezon or Jones' Jimmy Blue Jeans (Kyle Grey, 12-1)
  11. Rockingham Ranch or Supreme Racing's Lincoln Hawk (Tiago Pereira, 20-1)
  12. Hronis Racing's Crew Dragon (Juan Hernandez, 8-1)
  13. Yuesheng Zhang's Sword Zorro (Umberto Rispoli, 5-1)
  14. Wachtel Stable, Barber or Drion, et al's Flashiest (Abel Cedillo, 6-1)

John C. Mabee Stakes

  1. Maxim Rate (Hernandez)
  2. Clarke Cooper Family Trust, Lawless, Kruljac, et al's Quiet Secretary (Cedillo, 15-1)
  3. Dogtag (Rispoli);
  4. LNJ Foxwood's Nasty (Ricky Gonzalez, 20-1)
  5. Deborah McAnally Trust's She's Our Charm (Franco, 10-1)
  6. Calvin Nguyen's Bodhicitta (Desormeaux, 6-1)
  7. LNJ Foxwoods' Tapwater (Bravo, 6-1)
  8. Abdondanza Racing and Medallion Racing's Going to Vegas (Prat, 4-1)
  9. Aoshiba Corporation's Fast Jet Court (Van Dyke, 6-1)

The post Pair Of Graded Grass Stakes Headline Saturday Card At Del Mar appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Sadler Pondering Pacific Classic, Del Mar Derby For Rock Your World

Rock Your World went through a regularly scheduled workout – the fifth straight such Sunday exercise session since arriving at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif. – this morning. But whether it was a final one before running in next Saturday's $1 million Grade 1 TVG Pacific Classic or another step toward the $250,000 Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on September 4, remains to be determined.

The 3-year-old son of Candy Ride went six furlongs out of the gate in 1:12.60 under jockey Umberto Rispoli. Clocker/handicapper Toby Turrell had interim splits of :36.40 and 1:00.60.

“It went very well, we were all happy with it,” said Juan Leyva, assistant to trainer John Sadler. “At this point, it (next race) is still undecided. I'm sure John will come back tomorrow, make sure everything is all right with the horse and probably decide then.”

The deadline for nominations to the signature event of the Del Mar summer season was last Thursday at midnight and 15 names were filed. Supplemental entries can still be submitted, at a cost of $7,500, until 10 a.m. Tuesday. With the field set then, post positions will be drawn at a gathering that afternoon at The Brigantine restaurant adjacent to the track.

Hronis Racing's Rock Your World, who has earned $591,600 with three wins from five career starts, had put together the following string of Sunday workouts before this morning: 4 furlongs in :50.40 on turf, July 18; 5 furlongs in 1:01 on turf July 25; 6 furlongs in 1:13.20 on turf August 1; and, 5 furlongs in 1:00.20 one week ago.

Prior to the July 16 start of the meeting, Sadler had said the Del Mar Derby was the major target for Rock Your World. He was a surprise nominee to the TVG Pacific Classic.

The post Sadler Pondering Pacific Classic, Del Mar Derby For Rock Your World appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Stidham Celebrates Another Stakes Win At Del Mar

The win by Princess Grace in Saturday's Yellow Ribbon Handicap was the sixth at that level at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., for trainer Michael Stidham.

And maybe it was just the heat of the moment, but it seemed in the winner's circle afterward that seeing the 4-year-old daughter of Karakontie bursting between horses at the top of the stretch in the $200,000, 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 event and proceeding resolutely to a 1 ¼-length victory, topped the previous five here for the 63-year-old Stidham.

“I always, always love coming back to Del Mar,” Stidham, 63, said. “I was here all through the 1980s and it's almost like coming home. It's a great feeling. Part of my family – my daughter from college and my mother – are here and it's just a fantastic feeling.”

Stidham trained Princess Grace's mother, Masquerade, and said that the two were similarly tenacious, “always digging in and trying to win every time out.” Princess Grace, he said, was more talented – as evidenced by five wins and a second in six career starts over six different racetracks. “She should be undefeated, the one loss was just unlucky,” Stidham said.

Based in New Orleans, Stidham campaigns horses extensively in the Midwest and East, but has had success shipping here for stakes events over the last seven years.

In 2014, he won the San Clemente Stakes and the Sandy Blue with Istanford. He took back-to-back runnings of the Jimmy Durante during the fall meeting in 2018 and 2019 with Elsa and Alms, respectively. Pixelate's victory in last year's Del Mar Derby made it three straight years of at least one Del Mar stakes victory for Stidham, a streak that Princess Grace extended.

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“I have to say, one of the reasons I'm here is David Jerkens, the racing secretary,” Stidham said. “He's constantly calling me and wanting me to bring a string out – which I did a few years ago – and keeping me updated on races. He does a great job, and I want to give him credit for being part of the reason I came.”

Princess Grace exited the Yellow Ribbon in fine fettle. Her next assignment is undetermined.

“I haven't looked past (the Yellow Ribbon),” Stidham said. “This was going to be her test to step up to another league and she obviously passed the test really well.”

The post Stidham Celebrates Another Stakes Win At Del Mar appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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