Peter Miller | Horse Racing Free Tips

Buoyed By Larger Fields, Host Status For Kentucky Derby, Del Mar Sees Jump In Handle

Operating through challenges and uncertainty as a result of the ongoing pandemic, the 2020 summer race meet at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club near San Diego, Calif., delivered impressive results on several fronts, including the continuance of its industry-leading safety record.

Despite not having fans on track due to the pandemic and running 25% fewer race days than in 2019, Del Mar finished its 2020 summer race meet with an 8% total wagering increase compared to its 2019 summer meeting. Wagering totaled $466.68 million in 2020, an increase of $34.71 million compared to the $431.98 million wagered during the 2019 summer meet. Average daily handle for the 27-day 2020 session was $17.28 million, an increase of 44% over the daily average of $12.00 million for the 36-day 2019 summer meeting.

On-line wagering in the state and across the country picked up markedly and overcame the lower wagering on-track and at California's satellite locations. California on-line wagering increased by 125% from 2019, while out-of-state betting grew 65%.

“Given the extraordinary circumstances, we are very pleased with our results. The racing product was first-rate and players around the country responded in-kind,” said Del Mar Thoroughbred Club's CEO, Joe Harper. “It is especially gratifying that we were able to achieve positive business results while maintaining our commitment to the health and safety of our workforce and our neighbors despite the obvious challenges.”

The track had run a 36-day meet racing five days a week over the past three years, but because of the environment surrounding the pandemic, cut back to 27 days this summer.

Due to the reshuffling of the Triple Crown calendar, Del Mar was the California wagering host for its first ever Kentucky Derby on Saturday, September 5. All told, Del Mar handled over $24.8 million on the day making it the fourth highest wagering day in its history.

Due to horse recruitment efforts and the support of California horse owners, Del Mar was able to increase field size from 8.0 runners per race in 2019 to 8.4 in 2020.

“This was a unique season on multiple levels, but once again our horsemen and women were outstanding,” said Del Mar's Executive Vice President for Racing, Tom Robbins. “They are a resilient group and we are extremely appreciative of their support. Together, we put on a terrific race meet.”

Del Mar's commitment to safety and welfare was on display once again as the track held one of the safest race meets in its history. In both 2018 and 2019, The Jockey Club's Equine Injury Database ranked Del Mar the safest major racetrack in the United States.

Top quality racing and hard-fought competition rose up throughout the summer season. Superstar Maximum Security returned to action for new trainer Bob Baffert and scored a pair of wins – one by a nose in the San Diego Handicap, the other in dominant fashion in the TVG Pacific Classic. Baffert unveiled his latest young superstar when Princess Noor won for fun in the Del Mar Debutante, then another future star came to light when Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal's Dr. Schivel scored handily in the closing day Del Mar Futurity. Both those youngsters will be special to watch on down the line.

The battle for the Del Mar riding crown proved to be a season-long duel with two terrific riders – four-time champion Flavien Prat and the international newcomer Umberto Rispoli – hooked up in a fierce competition that went right down to the last day with Prat coming away a 50 to 49 winner by virtue of his score on Dr. Schivel in the Futurity. Trainer Peter Miller captured his eighth Del Mar training title when he saddled 28 winners over the course of the meet.

“There are so many people to thank for our success in this extremely unusual season,” said Josh Rubinstein, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club's President and COO. “On the business side want to extend our appreciation to our broadcast partner, TVG, for its dedication and professionalism in bringing our races to a national television audience and promoting our brand every day. We also owe a debt of gratitude to the family of backstretch workers here who helped make this meet a success as well as officials from the San Diego County Department of Health, Dr. Ghazala Sharieff and her expert medical team at Scripps Health, whose guidance was invaluable.”

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‘I Tend To Be A Sandbagger’: Miller Exceeds Low Expectations With Del Mar Summer Meet Title

If there was a trophy for the summer training title at Del Mar, Peter Miller's name could have been etched upon it well before the seaside track's meet drew to a close on Monday. In fact, hyper engravers could have done so a week or two ago.

Miller, a resident of nearby Encinitas, entered the closing day program with 27 wins from 110 starters, an eight-win advantage over Phil D'Amato. Bob Baffert has saddled 14 winners and Doug O'Neill 13.

It's the fourth summer title at Del Mar, which matches the number of fall Bing Crosby Meeting championships he has accomplished since that session was inaugurated in 2014.

“I'm thrilled and feel blessed to have such a great team to work with and this is a reflection of them all as well,” Miller said Monday morning. “From the hot walkers to the assistant trainers, they all give a 100 percent effort every day. And I have owners that allow me to run their horses where I think they should be and where they have a chance to win.”

When asked before the meeting to assess his title chances, Miller was not wildly enthusiastic. “I've got half as many horses as (Richard) Baltas, (Bob) Baffert or Doug (O'Neill) and for me to win everything has to go close to perfect,” Miller said on the eve of the July 10 opener.

In retrospect, Miller said the projection may have been conservative.

“I tend to be a sandbagger,” Miller said with a laugh. “I set my expectations a little low and hope to exceed them. It's really a numbers game and if you can win a good enough percentage things (like titles) happen for you.”

The 25 percent win rate, from the second-highest number of starters at the meeting going into the last day, was sufficient to win the title by a comfortable margin.

“In my mind, 20 percent is a good win percentage,” Miller said. “Anything over that exceeds my expectations. Our horses ran well throughout the meeting. We didn't really have any bad slumps and that makes a big difference.

“I'd just like to thank the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club for putting on a pretty darn good show under the circumstances.”

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Shackleford Half to Monomoy Girl Tabbed a Rising Star at Del Mar

Superman Shaq (Shackleford), a half-brother to champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar), disappointed with a dull effort in his debut, but made amends with a ‘TDN Rising Star’ worthy graduation at Del Mar Sunday. Shedding blinkers and sent off the 5-2 favorite for this second start, the chestnut colt strode out to the early lead and had company through a quarter in :22.08. He began inching clear turning for home, spurted further away after a half in :45.77 and bound home a 3 3/4-length winner. Parnelli (Quality Road) was second and Hot Pastrami (Dominus) was third. The time for the 5 1/2 furlongs was 1:04.25.

Superman Shaq was beaten 23 1/4 lengths when sixth after pressing the pace in his six-furlong debut at Del Mar Aug. 8, but had put in a solid string of three works since that Aug. 8 effort, most recently going five furlongs in 1:00 flat (3/58) Aug. 30.

“I thought I did, but I didn’t have him fit for the first race,” trainer Peter Miller admitted Sunday evening. “The blinkers off today helped him relax, too.”

Miller said the colt could make his next start in the Sept. 26 GI American Pharoah S., a Win and You’re in race for the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Superman Shaq was a $230,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling and put in a sizzling quarter-mile work in :20 3/5 before reselling for $550,000 at this year’s OBS Spring sale. In addition to Monomoy Girl, who continued her illustrious career with a victory in Friday’s GI La Troienne S., the colt is a half to fellow ‘TDN Rising Star’ and graded winner Mr. Monomoy (Palace Malice). Drumette, in foal to Mastery, sold for $1.85 million at the 2018 Keeneland November sale. She produced a filly by Mastery in 2019 and a colt by Tapit in 2020.

7th-Del Mar, $56,500, Msw, 9-6, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:04.25, ft.
SUPERMAN SHAQ, c, 2, by Shackleford
                1st Dam: Drumette, by Henny Hughes
                2nd Dam: Endless Parade, by Williamstown
                3rd Dam: Mnemosyne, by Saratoga Six
$230,000 Ylg ’19 FTKOCT; $550,000 2yo ’20 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $33,500. O-Gary Barber; B-Frankfort Park Farm & Michael Hernon (KY); T-Peter Miller. *1/2 to Monomoy Girl (Tapizar), Ch. 3-year-old Filly, MGISW, $3,386,818; and to Mr. Monomoy (Palace Malice), GSW, $327,162. Click for the Equibase.com chart or Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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C Z Rocket Rolls To Fourth Straight In Pat O’Brien Stakes At Del Mar

Tom Kagele's C Z Rocket, a classy, old veteran who seems to have found a new lease on life since he was claimed by trainer Peter Miller for $40,000 at Oaklawn Park in April, continued his rebirth at Del Mar Saturday when he went gamely through the stretch to capture the Pat O'Brien Stakes by half a length at the seaside track near San Diego, Calif.

The 6-year-old gelded son of City Zip won his fourth race in a row since the claim, the previous three having come against claiming and allowance company in Kentucky. He picked up a check for $90,000 from the $150,000 purse in the Grade II stake that pushed his bankroll up to $431,641.

The bay ran the seven furlongs in 1:22.25 and, as the 11-10 favorite, paid $4.20, $2.60 and $2.20 across the board. Finishing second was Lane's End Racing and Hronis Racing's Flagstaff, while Dan Agnew, Gerry Schneider and John Xitco's Law Abidin Citizen ran third.

“We saw that he'd been breaking slow in his races, so we were prepared for that,” said winning rider Flavien Prat. “But he broke well today and we were right in the race. Then the pace wasn't that fast (:23.10 :46.04 1:10.06), so we were right there. When I asked him, he was good. He's a willing horse.”

The victory added more accolades to an accolade-filled summer for his rider and trainer. Prat registered his 12th stakes win of the meet, just one away from the Del Mar record of 13 set by Rafael Bejarano in 2012. Miller picked up his fifth stakes win of the session and his meet-leading 22nd tally in the 21st day of racing.

“He broke well and usually he doesn't,” said Miller. “The pace was slow and Flavien had him in the perfect spot. Tom Kagele (owner) actually called me (about claiming the horse) and I said, 'His form is bad right now, but he's a runner.' You could see he had run some really fast races. I like old class horses that have shown talent. If you can get them going in the right direction they can run back to

The O'Brien was a Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” race guaranteeing the victor entry into the $2-million BC Dirt Mile with all fees paid. That race will be run on Saturday, November 7, at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.

In the day's Pick Six bet, a two-day $247,091 carryover stirred the pot and drew $1,167,066 in “new” money to the pool. After Facts Matter paid $9.00 for winning the 11th and final race on the card, there were 147 tickets with all six winner, each paying out $5,941.60. There will be a “Jackpot” carryover into Sunday's card of $186,553.

Racing resumes Sunday starting at 2 p.m. PT. There also will be a Monday racing card this week with the same 2 p.m. post.

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