Sunday, July 27, 2008
Del Mar Stable Notes 7/26/8
STREET BOSS CROSBY FAVORITE, REIGNING CHAMP THIRD CHOICE
Street Boss, on a four-race win streak, rates as a clear favorite on the morning-line for Sunday's 63rd running of the Grade I, $300,000 Bing Crosby Handicap at 6 furlongs on the main track.
The late-running sprinter is the 9-5 program choice in a field that smacks of much early speed, which should help set the race up for Street Boss' big stretch kick. That's what trainer Bruce Headley and jockey David Flores are banking on.
ZENYATTA WORKS TOWARD POSSIBLE START IN CLEMENT HIRSCH
The undefeated Zenyatta, perhaps America's finest older filly or mare on the main track, turned in a solid 5-furlong work this morning in 1:01 on the main track. She worked in company with Green Cat, who was clocked in 1:01.60. Zenyatta started three lengths behind her workmate.
The 4-year-old daughter of Street Cry is six for six since starting her career late in her 3-year-old season when she broke her maiden at first asking at Hollywood Park November 22.
The filly, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Moss and trained by John Shirreffs, may be tested in the Grade II, $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Handicap next Saturday at 1 1/16 miles by some new shooters as well as some runners who have been unsuccessful against her.
Leading the charge of newcomers would be Dawn After Dawn, who won Santa Anita's Grade II La Canada Stakes in February and has been committed to the race by trainer John Sadler, and possibly Placid Lake, who worked 7 furlongs in 1:27 this morning for trainer Vladimir Cerin.
Among those nominees to the race who have been earlier victims of Zenyatta: Romance Is Diane, Santa Teresita, Silver Swallow, Silver Z and Tough Tiz's Sis.
WICKERR PRODUCES 'TOUGHEST BEAT' OF THE MEET SO FAR
Walking down the middle of the track as he headed toward his barn on the Del Mar backstretch, trainer Craig Dollase's face wasn't clouded with disappointment. No, there was something of a grin on his face -- and his horse had just finished second, beaten a nose in the Wickerr Handicap.
"I'm very happy," he said. "That was a good comeback race." That it was. Awesome Gem made a swooping move and a determined drive down the stretch in an effort to win the one-mile turf race but was beaten by an equally determined One Union, who had led right from the start.
The race ended in a classic "Garrison finish," with four noses separating the first five horses on the wire to make it a dream race for a racing secretary/handicapper like Del Mar's Tom Robbins. Following the winner and runner-up were Dark Islander, Worldly and Stoneside.
All five top finishers were reported in good shape this morning, and One Union, Dark Islander, Worldly and Stoneside will be pointed toward the $400,000 Del Mar Mile Sunday, August 24, a "Win and You're In" race for the Breeders' Cup Mile.
The next start for Awesome Gem continues to be a "we'll see" response from the careful Dollase, though the 2007 Pacific Classic runner-up certainly seemed to respond favorably in his Wickerr effort and likely will go forward to this year's Pacific Classic, also slated for Sunday, August 24.
While reporting Awesome Gem in good shape this morning, Dollase said, "The race was good preparation for him. It was just what I wanted. Actually, I thought he might be a little short, but he almost won anyway."
FAVORITISM IN SAN CLEMENTE HANDICAP REFLECTS TOUGH FIELD
Ten evenly matched 3-year-old fillies go postward today the Grade II, $250,000 San Clemente Handicap, with the morning-line favorite -- Missit -- pegged at 7-2 odds.
The odds on second choice Misty Ocean are 9-2, with three fillies at 5-1.
Here's how the morning line shapes up after the top two: Storm Mesa, Bel Air Sizzle and Seattle Smooth, 5-1; Tasha's Miracle, 6-1; Mini Do, 12-1, and Sensational Love, Grace Anatomy and Hopehopehope, 20-1.
PACIFIC CLASSIC PROSPECT MAST TRACK IN SHARP WORKOUT
Hollywood Gold Cup winner Mast Track moved perhaps a step closer to Del Mar's Grade I, $1-million Pacific Classic with a 5-furlong move in 1 minute flat. It was his third work since the Gold Cup and his second at Del Mar.
Humberto Ascanio, Robert Frankel's assistant in charge of the Hall of Famer's Del Mar string, said, "He did it nice and easy, just what Bobby wants." Stable rider Jose Dominguez was up for the work.
By the way, Ascanio celebrated a birthday Friday, and was saluted with a greeting on the Infield tote board.
STALLION UNUSUAL HEAT KEEPS THE HOME FIRES BURNING
With four victories and two seconds in the first eight days of racing, progeny of the hot stallion Unusual Heat continue to light up the tote board at Del Mar.
Another Unusual Heat went to the winner's circle Friday as America's Friend blew past the field for a 2 1/4-length victory in the fourth race on the turf course. The 4-year-old chestnut filly, trained by Barry Abrams, is a full sister to Bel Air Sizzle, who could give the stallion another winner today in the Grade II, $250,000 San Clemente Handicap at a mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies.
The stallion will have two more chances at victory with a pair of runners -- Aunt Pink and Christiana's Heat -- in the day's first race.
SHORE LINES -- Bettors will be looking at a two-day Pick Six carryover of $540,093 going into today's program. Tickets with five of six winners Friday numbered 113 and paid $1,610.80 ... Trainer Wesley Ward may be nearly 3,000 miles away from Southern California but he hasn't forgotten what the region's racing has done for him. In an interview with a Saratoga Race Course media staffer Ward said, "Southern California is as tough as you can get when it comes to racing. If you can be competitive in Southern California, you can compete anywhere. When I was out there, I learned how to train horses to win." His assistant, Blake Heap, carries on the Ward presence in Southern California with 16 horses stabled at Del Mar ... Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is back in stride following hip-replacement surgery Monday. He came out of Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and was watching workouts this morning, with plans for coming to the races in the afternoon ... Apprentice rider Michael Martinez will serve a three-day suspension Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. Martinez is tied with his cousin, Alex Solis, at four wins apiece in the jockey standings ... Twix, the mare claimed by trainer Jeff Metz Thursday, continues to be comfortable as she, Metz hopes, recovers from a fractured left knee. Metz said he is hopeful that if she recovers she can serve as a broodmare.
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TRAKUS FACTS -- Fri., 7/25 -- Peak Speed: Race 6 (Polytrack) -- Sayit -- 43.2 mph (first quarter); Race 7 (turf) -- Awesome Gem -- 41.2 mph (first 15/16ths); Fastest Late Stretch Run: Race 5 (Polytrack) -- Tammy's Luck -- 37.5 mph (final 16th); Race 7 (turf) -- Awesome Gem -- 40.4 mph (final 16th).
DEL MAR COMBINED JOCKEY & TRAINER STATISTICS
(Current Through Friday, July 25, 2008)
Jockey -- Mts -- 1st -- 2nd -- 3rd -- Win% -- Money Won
Rafael Bejarano -- 46 -- 14 -- 11 -- 9 -- 30% -- $825,235
Tyler Baze -- 42 -- 8 -- 5 -- 5 -- 19% -- $352,412
Joel Rosario -- 44 -- 7 -- 2 -- 8 -- 16% -- $242,660
Victor Espinoza -- 40 -- 5 -- 5 -- 5 -- 13% -- $338,512
Alex Solis -- 30 -- 4 -- 9 -- 3 -- 13% -- $217,080
Michael Martinez -- 20 -- 4 -- 3 -- 2 -- 20% -- $82,280
Garrett Gomez -- 31 -- 3 -- 7 -- 4 -- 10% -- $297,600
Martin Pedroza -- 28 -- 3 -- 5 -- 4 -- 11% -- $136,880
Joseph Talamo -- 26 -- 3 -- 2 -- 1 -- 12% -- $132,268
Aaron Gryder -- 21 -- 3 -- 1 -- 1 -- 14% -- $280,759
Trainer -- Sts -- 1st -- 2nd -- 3rd -- Win% -- Money Won
Mike R. Mitchell -- 18 -- 5 -- 2 -- 2 -- 28% -- $452,916
Jerry Hollendorfer -- 15 -- 5 -- 1 -- 6 -- 33% -- $198,636
John W. Sadler -- 22 -- 4 -- 8 -- 0 -- 18% -- $275,454
Peter Miller -- 10 -- 4 -- 2 -- 1 -- 40% -- $115,900
Doug F. O'Neill -- 23 -- 3 -- 6 -- 4 -- 13% -- $176,209
Clifford W. Sise, Jr. -- 4 -- 3 -- 0 -- 0 -- 75% -- $77,200
Carla Gaines -- 8 -- 2 -- 2 -- 2 -- 25% -- $110,700
J. Eric Kruljac -- 5 -- 2 -- 2 -- 1 -- 40% -- $107,640
Gary Stute -- 6 -- 2 -- 2 -- 1 -- 33% -- $43,080
Barry Abrams -- 12 -- 2 -- 1 -- 2 -- 17% -- $141,460
Winning Favorites Report
(Current Through Friday, July 25, 2008)
Winning favorites -- 16 out of 75 -- 21.33%
Winning odds-on favorites -- 3 out of 7 -- 42.86%
In-the-Money favorites -- 52 out of 75 -- 69.33%
In-the-Money odds-on favorites -- 6 out of 7 -- 85.71%
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