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Pinehurst Wins Runhappy Futurity On Del Mar’s Closing Day

Pinehurst scooted to the front in the seven-furlong Runhappy Del Mar Futurity Monday, then just kept on scooting all the way around to score a handy 4 1/2-length triumph in the 74th edition of the seaside track's Grade 1, $300,000 2-year-old championship race.

It was closing afternoon for the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club's 82nd summer season in Del Mar, Calif., and it ended as many have over the past 25 years, with trainer Bob Baffert saddling the winner of the Futurity. This time was No. 15 for the Hall of Fame conditioner who has shown an affinity with young horses that few other trainers can even think of.

Another Hall of Famer, old pro Mike Smith, rode Pinehurst and nursed him through quick fractions of :22.09, :44.77, 1:10.17 and a final of 1:23.55. It was Smith's first stakes score of the summer and his first in the Futurity.

Finishing second was Lovingier, Fasihuddin or Navarro's Finneus, who had a half length on Downstream Racing's American Xperiment.

“When we ran last time, he stumbled pretty badly coming out of there, but he still made the lead,” said Smith. “So I knew he was plenty quick. We beat a horse that day (August 1) named Enbarr and I knew they were real high on him. So I figured I was sitting on a good horse. When you ride for Bob (trainer Baffert), you ride with confidence. He puts so much foundation under them and they all come running. So glad I got to win a stakes at Del Mar; and best to do it with a Grade 1.”

Pinehurst won a first prize of $180,000 for his efforts and, added to the $42,000 he was awarded for his maiden victory at Del Mar on Aug/. 1, he now shows a bankroll of $222,000. He's a bay colt by Twirling Candy who cost $385,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland September Sale. Pinehurst was bred in Kentucky by Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding. He races for SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable and Siena Farm LLC.

Pinehurst paid $10.00, $5.40 and $4.00 across the board. Finneus returned $18.00 and $7.80 and American Xperiment paid $5.00.

Earlier in the card, ERJ Racing and Kenney's Mackinnon outran eight rivals in the $102,000 Del Mar Juvenile Turf, finishing the mile on the grass in 1:36.24.

The winner was handled by Juan Hernandez and is trained by Doug O”Neill.

Finishing second was Aiden Butler's Thirty Four Coupe, just a nose ahead of Sierra Racing or Sterling Stables' Silver Surfer.

“He broke his maiden (here July 31) in a manner that we were hoping this day would come but you never know,” said O'Neill. “So much credit to the owners being so patient and Juan (Hernandez) being so patient with this colt. I was a little bit concerned as the race unfolded. I knew that (Optimising) was the X-factor. I knew he was in from Europe and had been working well and had great connections and was in a great spot. But when Juan called on MacKinnon and he responded I started smiling. If he stays injury free the ($1 Million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 5) is the goal.”

Mackinnon earned $60,000 for his win and increased his bankroll to $117,860. As the 8/5 favorite he paid $5.20 $3.40 and $240. Thirty Four Coupe returned $14.60 and $7.00, while Silver Surfer paid $3.20.

Mackinnon is a chestnut colt by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

Mackinnon and jockey Juan Hernandez win the Del Mar Juvenile Turf

In the track's Pick 6 Single Ticket Jackpot wager, the “mandatory payout” pool reached $5,153,316 and rewarded 8,238 ticket holders with $561.74 each.

Racing will resume at Del Mar on Wednesday, Nov. 3. The track will host its second Breeders' Cup Championship on November 5 and 6.

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Pinehurst Wins Runhappy Del Mar Futurity By a ‘Fair Way’

Bob Baffert's odds-on favorite in Monday's GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity did little running, but it was no matter, as Baffert's 'other' colt, Pinehurst (Twirling Candy), picked up the slack and ran away from his foes to give Baffert an incredible 15th victory in the seaside oval's annual closing day feature.

Gutting out a hard-fought debut victory as a 17-10 chalk going five furlongs on this track Aug. 1, the $385,000 Keeneland September buy was made a distant second choice despite owning the best Beyer figure in the field as all the money poured in on Murray (Street Sense). Assuming command early with no riders showing much appetite for using their mounts' speed, Pinehurst dictated terms through a :22.09 quarter while just lightly pressed by the favorite as the other two single-digit odds horses, Pappacap (Gun Runner) and American Xperiment (Nyqust), comprised the third flight.

Murray came under the gun fairly early on the turn and was pushed along through a :44.77 half while making no dent on the leader's margin. Shifting out one path at the top of the lane, Pinehurst left the rail open for Pappcap, but that rival could not quicken with him as the leader drew away into mid-stretch. Longshot Finneus (Stay Thirsty) rallied down the center of the track to get into second, but was never within shouting distance of Pinehurst, who came home comfortably in charge under Mike Smith, remarkably winning the Del Mar Futurity for the first time. American Xperiment edged out Pappcap for third, with Murray checking in a dull fifth.

“I could see that Murray didn't have it today. He was struggling early on. I'm just glad that I had two good horses and one of them had it even if the other one didn't,” said Baffert. “I've been blessed over the years with so many good owners and so many good young horses. Mike Smith broke his maiden, so it was natural to have him back. He's a great rider and you give him a live one he knows what to do.”

“When we ran last time, he stumbed pretty badly coming out of there, but he still made the lead. So I knew he was plenty quick,” added Smith. “We beat a horse that day named Enbarr and I knew they were real high on him. So I figured I was sitting on a good horse. When you ride for Bob, you ride with confidence. He puts so much foundation under them and they all come running. So glad I got to win a stakes at Del Mar; and best to do it with a Grade I.”

Pedigree Notes:

With the victory, Pinehurst becomes the 30th stakes winner, 11th graded stakes winner and sixth Grade I winner for Lane's End Farm's Twirling Candy, following Finley'sluckycharm, Gift Box, Concrete Rose, Collusion Illusion and this year's GI Preakness S. victor Rombauer. He is the third foal to race out of My Meadowview homebred Giant Win, a full-sister to GSW First Passage out of MSW Win's Fair Lady. Third dam Win Crafty Lady was a GSW who produced four-time GSW and sire Graeme Hall (Dehere), GISW Harmony Lodge (Hennessy) and GSW Win McCool (Giant's Causeway). Giant Win has a yearling colt by Cairo Prince and produced a Liam's Map colt this season before returning to the winner's sire.

Monday, Del Mar
RUNHAPPY DEL MAR FUTURITY-GI, $300,500, Del Mar, 9-6, 2yo, 7f, 1:23.55, ft.
1–PINEHURST, 120, c, 2, by Twirling Candy
                1st Dam: Giant Win, by Giant's Causeway
                2nd Dam: Win's Fair Lady, by Dehere
                3rd Dam: Win Crafty Lady, by Crafty Prospector
   1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I
   WIN. ($180,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $385,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP).
O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC,
Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay Schoenfarber,
Waves Edge Capital LLC, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable
& Siena Farm LLC; B-Fred W. Hertrich III & John D. Fielding
(KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Mike E. Smith. $180,000. Lifetime
Record: 2-2-0-0, $222,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple
   Plus*. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Finneus, 120, c, 2, Stay Thirsty–My Fiona, by Ghostzapper.
($200,000 Ylg '20 FTCAYR). O-Naseer Mohammed Fasihuddin,
Terry Lovingier & Amanda Navarro; B-Terry C. Lovingier (CA);
T-Walther Solis. $60,000.
3–American Xperiment, 123, c, 2, Nyquist–Lovely Lil, by
Tiznow. ($150,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Downstream Racing, LLC;
B-Allied Racing Stable, LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.
$36,000.
Margins: 4HF, HF, HF. Odds: 4.00, 38.40, 5.10.
Also Ran: Pappacap, Murray, Olympic Legend. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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American Pharoah Colt Powers Home in DMR Juvenile Turf

DEL MAR JUVENILE TURF S., $102,000, Del Mar, 9-6, 2yo, 1mT, 1:36.24, fm.
1–MACKINNON, 120, c, 2, by American Pharoah
           1st Dam: Scat Means Go (GSP, $142,054), by Scat Daddy
           2nd Dam: Shenandoah Valley, by Proud Citizen
           3rd Dam: Ashley Anne's Wish, by You and I
($200,000 Ylg '20 FTKOCT; $285,000 2yo '21 FTFMAR).
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-ERJ Racing, LLC & Dave Kenney;
B-International Equities Holding, Inc. (KY); T-Doug F. O'Neill;
J-Juan J. Hernandez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0,
$117,860.
2–Thirty Four Coupe, 119, c, 2, Run Away and Hide–Full of Joy,
by Kitten's Joy. ($32,000 Ylg '20 FTKOCT; $31,000 2yo '21
FTSANA). O-Aidan Butler; B-Phillips Racing Partnership,
Christopher & George Elser (KY); T-George Papaprodromou.
$20,000.
3–Silver Surfer (GB), 118, c, 2, Caravaggio–Riskit Fora Biskit
(Ire), by Kodiac (GB). (78,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA; 100,000gns
Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Sierra Racing & Sterling Stables, LLC; B-Ed's
Stud Ltd (GB); T-Philip D'Amato. $12,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, NO, NK. Odds: 1.60, 25.10, 4.00.
Also Ran: Optimising (Ire), Aquitania Arrival, Mogollon Rim, Socal Red, Shortman, My Mane Champ.
Bet into 8-5 favoritism for his stakes debut in Monday's Del Mar Juvenile Turf, Mackinnon was three wide the trip, but found an extra gear for the final furlong and came home a convincing winner. Away fairly for Juan Hernandez, the chestnut was a forward factor and was angled into the three path with about 5 1/2 furlongs to travel to stalk the pace from a joint-third. Asked for a bit of acceleration at the five-sixteenths, Mackinnon looked to be one-paced as Thirty Four Coupe was clinging on gamely up front, but he found extra when popped the question in earnest at the furlong grounds and quickened home nicely for the victory. Thirty Four Coupe just held for second over the U.S.-debuting Silver Surfer, who lacked room inside the final sixteenth of a mile and lunged, but was forced to settle for third.

“[Trainer] Doug [O'Neill] just basically told me to ride him with confidence,” said Hernandez. “We were doing OK until we got to the far turn and I felt him get a little lazy on me. So when we went for home and he changed leads, I hit him left-handed with the stick on time and he jumped back into it. From there we just went on with it. He's a nice horse and the way he finished out today, I think he'll like to run on.”

The 21st stakes winner for Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Mackinnon was a $200,000 purchase at last year's Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Showcase and was originally an RNA at Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream after breezing a furlong in :10 2/5. He later sold for $285,000 in a private transaction.

Fourth on debut sprinting 4 1/2 panels at Santa Anita May 9, Mackinnon was runner-up in an Arcadia turf sprint June 11 and graduated over course and distance July 31.

“He broke his maiden in a manner that we were hoping this day would come, but you never know,” O'Neill said. “So much credit to the owners being so patient and Juan being so patient with this colt. I was a little bit concerned as the race unfolded. I knew that Optimising was the X-factor. I knew he was in from Europe and had been working well and had great connections and was in a great spot. But when Juan called on MacKinnon and he responded I started smiling. If he stays injury free the [Nov. 5 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf] is the goal.”

Mackinnon has a foal half-sister by Liam's Map and his dam was bred back to City of Light. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Flightline Freaky Fast In Return At Del Mar, Earning 114 Beyer Speed Figure

Flightline had people buzzing when he won his debut on April 24 at Santa Anita by 13 1/4 lengths and earned a 105 Beyer Speed Figure. On Sunday at Del Mar, the $1-million Tapit colt did himself one better, defeating an allowance/optional claiming field by 12 3/4 lengths with jockey Flavien Prat sitting like a statue in the irons at the seaside course north of San Diego, Calif.

This victory earned the John Sadler trainee a 114 Beyer Speed Figure, co-highest assigned to any runner this year.

Flightline covered six furlongs in 1:08.05, which according to Daily Racing Form's Brad Free is the fastest time at the distance at Del Mar since Lord Nelson won the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes in 1:07.65 in 2016.

Bred in Kentucky by Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Farm, Flightline was produced from the Indian Charlie mare, Feathered, a $2.35 million purchase by Lyon while in foal to War Front in 2016.

Consigned by Lane's End, Flightline brought $1 million at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale. He was purchased by Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds, who put together a partnership of owners that includes Summer Wind, along with Hronis Racing, Siena Farm and Woodford Racing.

Sadler backed off on Flightline following his April debut, waiting until June 9 for his first timed breeze after the win. He came into Sunday's race off a solid string at breezes over the Del Mar main track, including a best of morning five furlongs in :58.40 on Aug. 24.

Sadler did not indicate immediately after the race where Flightline might surface next. During the colt's hiatus earlier this summer, the trainer told Thoroughbred Daily News, “We are not going to be in a hurry.”

Flightline romps to a second straight victory, going six furlongs at Del Mar in 1:08.05

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