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Del Mar Summer Meet Set New Records on Multiple Fronts

Highlighted by the buzz around Flightline (Tapit)'s stellar GI TVG Pacific Classic performance in the track's signature event, Del Mar had record wagering and field size for the 31-day summer meet that ended Sunday, as well as a continued excellent safety record for the fourth consecutive year. There were no catastrophic injuries among 2,688 starters in the meet's 294 races.

The 83rd summer meet at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club (DMTC) set new records for average daily handle with $18.69 million a day, an increase of 1.5% from last year's $18.41 million, which was the previous record. Total wagering for the meet increased to $579.24 million, compared to the $570.78 million wagered during the 2021 summer session. In addition, on-track business increased with average daily wagering of $1.52 million, which represented a 4.8% growth from 2021. Total attendance of 278,702 was up 16.1% from 2021's total of 240,030.

With an average of more than $800,000 in purses per day, field size reached 9.77 for turf races and 8.67 for main track races. Together they combined for a Del Mar record of 9.14 horses per race, well above last year's average of 8.45 and among the top in field size for the entire country.

“Just an incredible meet on all levels,” said Joe Harper, Del Mar's CEO. “All season long the racing was ultra-competitive and extremely safe. Our racing office, led by Tom Robbins and David Jerkens, was phenomenal. We're also very appreciative of the support we received from our fans and our players both here on track and all across the country.”

In addition, Del Mar's “Ship & Win” program had its best season yet with 222 new runners shipping in to race well ahead of last year's record 186 shippers.

“This meet is the culmination of a year-long plan to revitalize California racing and return it to its rightful place as one of the best circuits in America,” said Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) chairman Gary Fenton. “A big thank you to our partners at DMTC and our members. Without owners there is no California racing and they continue to make a strong statement that Del Mar is their favorite place to be.”

Rider Juan Hernandez, who won five graded races at the meet, captured the jockey title in a runaway with 49 total victories. Umberto Rispoli trailed in second with 27 wins for the meet. Hernandez won his first rider's title at Del Mar last fall.

In contrast, the trainer's title was so close that it came down to the last day of the meet. Bob Baffert got a victory with Cave Rock (Arrogate) in the GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity, a win that put him on even terms with Phil D'Amato. The two finished the day tied with 19 wins apiece. It's D'Amato third summer title at Del Mar and his fourth overall, as well as Baffert's eighth (but first title at Del Mar since 2003). A total of 70 different trainers won races at the meet.

The leading owner crown went to the partnership of Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, who finished first both in number of wins and money won. They won a total of nine races (35%) and purses of $849,680. Hronis Racing was the runner-up with wins (six) and J. Paul Reddam's Reddam Racing was second in purses ($628,834).

Racing will return to Del Mar for the Bing Crosby meet, which runs Nov. 11 through Dec. 4.

The post Del Mar Summer Meet Set New Records on Multiple Fronts appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Flightline to Lane’s End Upon Retirement

Edited Press Release

Flightline (Tapit-Feathered, by Indian Charlie), who is rated among the best racehorses in history after his momentous 19 1/4-length victory in the GI Pacific Classic this month, will enter stud as the property of a syndicate at Lane's End Farm upon the conclusion of his racing career.

From a prolific Phipps family, Flightline was bred by Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Farm and is raced by Summer Wind in partnership with Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing. A $1-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase from the Lane's End consignment, Flightline is trained by John Sadler and has been ridden in all five of his starts by Flavien Prat.

Flightline displayed star power right from the beginning, winning on debut in April of 2021 at Santa Anita Park. His 13 1/4-length victory earned him 'TDN Rising Star' status and a Beyer Speed Figure of 105. He was scintillating in a first-level allowance at Del Mar at second asking, winning by 12 3/4 lengths and earning a 114 Beyer.

Making his stakes debut in the GI Malibu S. in December of 2021, Flightline continued to assert his dominance, winning by 11 1/2 lengths for a 118 Beyer. Next seen in the GI Metropolitan H. at Belmont Park on June 11, Flightline overcame a troubled trip to score by six lengths, earning a 112 Beyer.

The Pacific Classic on Sept. 3 was Flightline's first attempt stretching out to two turns and a mile and a quarter. It proved to be his most dominant performance to date, as he drew off from G1 Dubai World Cup winner Country Grammer (Tonalist) and GI Santa Anita H. winner Express Train (Union Rags) to win by 19 1/4 lengths, earning a Beyer of 126–the joint second-highest Beyer since Daily Racing Form began publishing Beyer Speed Figures 30 years ago. Thoro-Graph assigned Flightline a – 8 1/2, the fastest number it has ever given out. Flightline's Pacific Classic performance resonated overseas, too: Timeform assigned him a rating of 143, the highest number ever given to an American-trained horse. Flightline also sits atop Timeform's 2022 global rankings, ahead of Shadwell's unbeaten European superstar Baaeed (See The Stars {Ire}). He has earned nearly $1.4-million, and is being pointed for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland on Nov. 5.

Flightline is out of Jane Lyon's Feathered, a daughter of Indian Charlie who won the GIII Edgewood S. at Churchill Downs and finished second in both the GI American Oaks and GI Starlet S. and third in the GI Frizette S. It is an excellent Phipps family, the third dam being the GI Matron S. and GI Acorn S. winner Finder's Fee (Storm Cat), and the fourth dam GISW Fantastic Find (Mr. Prospector).

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Cave Rock Rolls in Runhappy Del Mar Futurity

Made the 2-5 jolly to follow up on a giant, 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy debut, for which he earned a towering 101 Beyer Speed Figure, Watson, Weitman and Pegram's Cave Rock (Arrogate) made it a sweep of the weekend main-track juvenile Grade Is for his late sire and gave trainer Bob Baffert an unprecedented 16th victory in the GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity.

Having graduated by a half-dozen lengths on his Aug. 13 debut, the $210,000 Keeneland November weanling and $550,000 Keeneland September yearling was squeezed back between fellow 'Rising Star' stablemate Newgate (Into Mischief) to his inside and the commonly owned GIII Best Pal S. hero Havnameltdown (Uncaptured) to his outside, but he easily made up the length or so he'd lost to shade Havnameltdown for the lead through a quarter that was posted in a strong :21.56. Dueling heads apart around the turn as the pace remained breakneck, Cave Rock and Havnameltdown pulled well clear of the remainder as they hit the stretch, but the former found extra–particularly when switching his leads at the eighth pole–and went on to score by an imposing margin before galloping out strongly. Skinner (Curlin) picked up the pieces for third. The final time of 1:20.99 for the seven furlongs breaks the previous stakes record of 1:21.29 set by future champion Declan's Moon (Malibu Moon) set in 2004.

“He's a good horse; very professional,” said jockey Juan Hernandez, winning his meet-leading 12th stakes event. “And he's fast. He broke a step slow, but then he got right in gear and made the running. I tried to slow him down some, but he wasn't having it. So I just let him go on and do his thing. When we hit the quarter pole, I asked him and he changed leads and took off. He just wanted to go. He's something.”

Pedigree Notes:

Cave Rock is the third graded winner–all Grade I winners–and the sixth black-type winner overall for the much-missed Arrogate. Like Saturday's GI TVG Del Mar Debutante heroine And Tell Me Nolies, Cave Rock was prepared for his first trip through the sales ring by Mulholland Springs, and like the Debutante victress, the colt also hails from a Danzig-line dam. Danzig also appears on the bottom side of the pedigree of Arrogate's other black-type placegetters Catiche and Caragate.

Cave Rock's yearling full-brother topped this year's Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Sale on a bid of $700,000 from Tom McCrocklin, agent for Champion Equine, and 2011 GIII Schuylerville S. winner Georgie's Angel produced an Improbable filly this year before being bred back to Connect.

Sunday, Del Mar
RUNHAPPY DEL MAR FUTURITY-GI, $302,000, Del Mar, 9-11, 2yo, 7f, 1:20.99 (NSR), ft.
1–CAVE ROCK, 120, c, 2, by Arrogate
1st Dam: Georgie's Angel (GSW, $129,564), by Bellamy Road
2nd Dam: Lalka, by Dynaformer
3rd Dam: Celmis, by Bold Ruckus
'TDN Rising Star' 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. ($210,000 Wlg '20 KEENOV; $550,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Michael E Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul Weitman; B-Anne & Ronnie Sheffer Racing LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J Hernandez. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $228,000. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: First SW this cross. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Havnameltdown, 123, c, 2, Uncaptured–Ashley's Babe, by Put It Back. 1ST G1 BLACK-TYPE. ($16,000 Ylg '21 OBSOCT; $200,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-Michael E Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul Weitman; B-Katherine S Devall (FL); T-Bob Baffert. $60,000.
3–Skinner, 118, c, 2, Curlin–Winding Way, by Malibu Moon. 1ST BLACK-TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK-TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK-TYPE. ($40,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $510,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-C R K Stable LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-John A Shirreffs. $36,000.
Margins: 5 1/4, 4 1/4, 1. Odds: 0.40, 6.50, 13.50.
Also Ran: Newgate, The Big Wam, Mixto, Classical Cat, Agency, Pop d'Oro. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Creative Cause Colt ‘Wahlop’-s Rivals in DMR Juvenile Turf

Sent off right at his morning line of 8-1, Packs a Wahlop (Creative Cause) worked out a nice trip beneath Hall of Famer Mike Smith and exploded away from his rivals in the final eighth of a mile to capture Sunday's GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf at the seaside oval and become a leading U.S. candidate for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile the first weekend of November.

Away alertly from the nine hole, the $27,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $270,000 OBS April (:10 flat) acquisition showed good speed and rolled forward to press a moderate early tempo outside of the rail-drawn Ah Jeez (Mendelssohn) through a half in :47.24. Shadowing the front-runner's every move while going well around the second turn, Packs a Wahlop came after the front-runner in earnest with a quarter-mile to race and sprinted home impressively to score by open lengths. Don'tthinkjustdoit (Smiling Tiger) hugged the fence into the lane, came out and finished well for second, but was ultimately disqualified to seventh after a lengthy stewards' debate for causing a chain-reaction of interference at midstretch. Valiancer (Tapiture), who attacked the line nicely in the middle of the track, was moved up from third to second, while Dandy Man Shines (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) was placed third to complete a Jeff Mullins-trained triple.

“That was kind of the plan along,” said Mullins. “He showed speed going five-eighths; we figured he would be laying close somewhere in a comfortable position. Mike's worked him every time and he's had all the confidence in this horse, we all have.”

An even fourth sprinting over a sloppy Gulfstream main track June 3, Packs a Wahlop graduated by 1 1/2 lengths in a five-furlong maiden over this turf course Aug. 5 and was stretching out for the first time Sunday.

Pedigree Notes:

Packs a Wahlop is the 24th stakes winner and sixth winner at the graded level for his Airdrie-based stallion, who is also responsible for Grade III winner and Grade I-placed Skyler's Scramjet, who has a second dam by City Zip's sire Carson City. Oak Ridge Farm acquired Packs a Wahlop's treble stakes-winning dam for $87,000 at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale, and she produced a Frosted filly last year before being bred to another son of Tapit in the form of Cupid this past breeding season.

Sunday, Del Mar
DEL MAR JUVENILE TURF S.-GIII, $104,500, Del Mar, 9-11, 2yo, 1mT, 1:35.96, fm.
1–PACKS A WAHLOP, 120, c, 2, by Creative Cause
1st Dam: City by the Bay (MSW, $172,240), by City Zip
2nd Dam: Glitter Time, by Glitterman
3rd Dam: Fujitime, by Timeless Native
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($27,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $270,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-Red Baron's Barn LLC & Rancho Temescal LLC; B-Oak Ridge Farm (KY); T-Jeff Mullins; J-Mike E Smith. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $110,000. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
*2–Valiancer, 118, c, 2, Tapiture–War Angel, by Declaration of War. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($7,000 Ylg '21 KEEJAN; $150,000 2yo '22 OBSOPN). O-Doug Gans, Gary Jacobs, Larry M Katz, Michael Lewis, William Meathe & Kevin Riggs; B-Savesnine Corp (KY); T-Jeff Mullins. $20,000.
*3–Dandy Man Shines (Ire), 118, c, 2, Dandy Man (Ire)–Zehrah (Ire), by Raven's Pass. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. (€75,000 Wlg '20 GOFNOV; €90,000 Ylg '21 GOFOR; 105,000gns 2yo '22 TATBRE). O-Red Baron's Barn LLC & Rancho Temescal LLC; B-Mr John Frances Keegan (IRE); T-Jeff Mullins. $12,000.
*Don'tthinkjustdoit (Smiling Tiger) finished second, but was disqualified and placed seventh.
Margins: 4 1/4, HD, HF. Odds: 8.00, 38.90, 4.00.
Also Ran: Ah Jeez, De la Luna, Wound Up, Don'tthinkjustdoit, Mas Rapido (GB), Syntactic, Stone Point, Tahoma, Park City, Ti Sento (Ire), President Z. Scratched: Buffett, Taltariate. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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