Thursday, August 14, 2008

Del Mar Stable Notes 8/13/8

McCANN'S MOJAVE COMMITTED TO PACIFIC CLASSIC; SURF CAT WORKS; STUDENT COUNCIL ON HIS WAY TO DEFEND TITLE

Owner Mike Willman put McCann's Mojave officially in the mix Tuesday for Del Mar's Grade I, $1-million Pacific Classic Sunday, August 24 at 1 ¼ miles on the main track.

The announcement came two days after the 8-year-old son of Memo put in a sizzling 6-furlong work in 1:10.60 at Golden Gate Fields in Northern California. The horse, who has posted career earnings of $1.5 million, is trained by Steve Specht and was fourth in the Hollywood Gold Cup in his most recent start. He's scheduled to work one more time -- one mile at Golden Gate Fields Saturday -- and ship to Del Mar on Monday.


On his way west to defend his 2007 victory in the Pacific Classic is Student Council, trained by Steve Asmussen. The 6-year-old son of Kingmambo worked 6 furlongs Monday on Saratoga's Oklahoma training track in 1:14.46 and is expected to arrive in Southern California later today following a flight from New York. Student Council was caught in 12.69, 24.77, 36.88 48.87 on his way to a final time. He galloped out 7 furlongs in 1:28.84

A start in the Pacific Classic will mark Student Council's fourth in Southern California this year. In his latest western outing, Student Council finished third in the Hollywood Gold Cup, which preceded a runner-up finish in Saratoga's Grade I Whitney Handicap July 26. Earlier, Student Council finished fifth in the San Antonio Handicap and sixth in the Santa Anita Handicap.

In his 2007 Pacific Classic victory, Student Council defeated Awesome Gem by a half-length under jockey Richard Migliore, who since has returned to his long time base in New York. Shaun Bridgmohan has been handling the reins on Student Council in his last three outings.

Trainer Bruce Headley sent his Surf Cat out for a mile in 1:38.20 Tuesday morning in his next-to-last move for the Pacific Classic. Surf Cat was clocked in 1:25 for 7 furlongs, which was the planned distance for his work, but Headley said the clockers gave him a choice and he opted for the mile time. Jockey David Flores was aboard for the work. The son of Sir Cat was second to Well Armed in Del Mar's Grade II San Diego Handicap July 19.

Headley said of the work: "It was fabulous. Let 'em ship out here; let 'em come," referring to such prospects as Student Council, Go Between and Out of Control. Headley said the 6-year-old would work again Tuesday.

Well Armed worked Tuesday, also, traveling a mile in 1:38 with Aaron Gryder aboard. The 5-year-old son of Tiznow covered 5 furlongs in 1:01.60, with the final furlong coming in 12.60. Trainer Eoin Harty, in echoing Headley's comment, said, "He worked very well, he's very fit and he's right on target." Harty said the horse would work 5 furlongs on Monday or Tuesday.

Another Tuesday Pacific Classic worker weighed in from Churchill Downs when Mott's Go Between hung up a sharp 1:25.40 7-furlong move over the Louisville, Ky., oval. A start in the Pacific Classic for Go Between will be his fourth in Southern California this year. He won the Sunshine Millions Classic at Santa Anita in January, and was second in both the Santa Anita Handicap and Hollywood Gold Cup.

Delosvientos, riding a three-race win streak, moved forward toward Del Mar's signature event by working 7 furlongs this morning in 1:31.

Entering the Pacific Classic picture as another possible starter is Belo Purse, stabled with trainer Mike Puype for owners Little Red Feather Stable and Paul S. Chacon. The horse arrived a week ago from Brazil, and Koch acknowledges that the horse is a longshot to start in the 1 1/4-mile race. "We were hoping we might run in the Pacific Classic," Koch said, "but it looks like a longshot right now."

Rounding out the list of prospects are 2007 runner-up Awesome Gem, Hollywood Gold Cup winner Mast Track, Mostacolli Mort, Zappa, Out of Control, Barcola, Tissy Fit and Tres Borrachos.

Nominations for the Pacific Classic close Thursday.

10 TOP-NOTCH FILLIES SET TO GO IN GRADE I DEL MAR OAKS

Ten 3-year-old fillies, including the runner-up in Hollywood Park's Grade I American Oaks, the winner of Del Mar's San Clemente Handicap and a pair of runners from the Barry Abrams barn, will go postward Saturday in the 52nd running of the Grade I, $350,000 Del Mar Oaks.

Satan's Circus, from the barn of Christophe Clement, leads the entry list for the track's premier race for 3-year-old fillies. The classy daughter of Gone West has been handled all season here by Clement assistant Nicholas Bacharand, who said this morning, "She is good to go." Garrett Gomez has the call for the race at 1 1/8 miles on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

The Bret Calhoun-trained Storm Mesa, on a five-race victory ride, will try to reprise her San Clemente win as she leaves the gate in the Oaks. Her regular rider, Eddie Martin Jr., retains the mount for Calhoun.

Carrying the hopes of Abrams will be Bel Air Sizzle and Lethal Heat. Clinton Potts rides Bel Air Sizzle and Rafael Bejarano is named on Lethal Heat. Lethal Heat already has won two stakes during the meeting, including the defeat of males in the Real Good Deal, in which she broke her own record at 7 furlongs with a time of 1:21.95.

Rounding out the field are Ginger Pop, with a returning Richard Migliore in the irons; Magical Fantasy, with Alex Solis; Million Dollar Run, Tyler Baze; Missit, David Flores; Misty Ocean, Joel Rosario, and Ocean Music, Mike Smith.

MAIN TRACK MAINTENANCE:

On Tuesday, the Polytrack surface was power-harrowed and rototilled to a depth of six (6") inches. The track was returned to training and racing depth of approximately two inches and consistency through Gallop Mastering and watering.

Wednesday, there were three loads of water (by water truck) added to the racetrack between training and racing time. Additionally, there will be one load of water applied to the running lanes after the day's second race.

Barring notable weather changes, a similar watering pattern will be followed each racing day, with the exception of Fridays and its later start.

On Fridays, following training hours, the track will be power-harrowed to a depth of four (4") inches, then returned to training and racing depth and consistency through Gallop Mastering and watering. No additional water will be added to the track during the racing card Fridays.

SHORE LINES -- Colonel John, who will represent Eoin Harty in Saratoga's Travers Stakes Saturday, August 23, breezed 5 furlongs Tuesday in 58 seconds flat. Harty plans to ship the 3-year-old Wednesday, August 20 ... Trainer Ron McAnally was absent from his barn again this morning as he continues to recover from a kick on the left hip by a horse on Sunday morning. Assistant trainer Dan Landers said he expects McAnally back at his post soon, saying, "He's not one to sit around long" ... On the work tab today: Barbecue Eddie, a possible starter in the Grade II, $300,000 Pat O'Brien Handicap Sunday, August 24, 1:00.20 for 5 furlongs for trainer Brian Koriner.

TRAKUS FACTS -- Mon., 8/11 -- Peak Speed: Race 6 (Polytrack) -- Cotati -- 42.6 mph (first 3/16ths); Race 7 (Turf) -- Dr. Skimming -- 45.0 mph (first 3/16ths); Fastest Late Stretch Run: Race 6 (Polytrack) -- Roar of Eagles -- 36.6 mph (final 16th); Race 7 (Turf) -- Seth the Candeyman -- 39.3 mph (final 16th).

DEL MAR COMBINED JOCKEY & TRAINER STATISTICS
(Current Through Monday, August 11, 2008)

Jockey Mts 1st 2nd 3rd Win% Money Won
Rafael Bejarano 119 27 28 22 23% $1,517,560
Joel Rosario 126 23 11 20 18% $860,528
Tyler Baze 122 22 14 16 18% $1,032,666
Garrett Gomez 79 16 11 12 20% $1,128,815
Victor Espinoza 95 10 12 11 11% $616,030
Martin Garcia 78 9 11 9 12% $407,154
Joseph Talamo 74 8 9 4 11% $428,266
Alex Solis 68 7 16 13 10% $443,200
Michael Baze 59 7 10 2 12% $397,527
David Flores 72 7 9 12 10% $749,377

Trainer Sts 1st 2nd 3rd Win% Money Won
John W. Sadler 66 17 17 3 26% $1,167,937
Doug F. O'Neill 60 10 13 8 17% $525,947
Mike R. Mitchell 43 10 5 8 23% $650,970
Jeff Mullins 47 9 12 7 19% $356,007
Jerry Hollendorfer 35 9 3 9 26% $346,529
Peter Miller 26 7 4 2 27% $229,500
Clifford W. Sise, Jr. 19 6 3 3 32% $180,920
Patrick Gallagher 22 5 4 4 23% $236,360
J. Eric Kruljac 13 5 3 1 38% $194,420
William Spawr 26 5 3 1 19% $170,176

Winning Favorites Report
(Current Through Monday, August 11, 2008)

Winning favorites -- 57 out of 205 -- 27.80%
Winning favorites on dirt -- 44 out of 158 -- 27.85%
Winning favorites on turf -- 13 out of 47 -- 27.66%
Winning odds-on favorites -- 15 out of 28 -- 53.57%
In-the-Money favorites -- 142 out of 205 -- 69.27%
In-the-Money odds-on favorites -- 25 out of 28 -- 89.29%

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