Thursday, August 07, 2008
Del Mar Stable Notes 8/6/8
WELL ARMED, SURF CAT WORK TOWARD PACIFIC CLASSIC
Well Armed and Surf Cat, one-two finishers in the Grade II San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles, worked Tuesday toward their apparent next starts -- Del Mar's Grade I, $1-million Pacific Classic Sunday, August 24 at 1 1/4 miles on the main track.
The Pacific Classic is a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" event for the Breeders' Cup Classic division. In winning the San Diego, Well Armed already has qualified for a spot in the gate for the new $1-million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile set for Saturday, October 25 at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.
Another Pacific Classic prospect, Mr. Napper Tandy, is set to run Friday in an allowance/optional claiming race that could be used by trainer Jack Carava as a prep for the Pacific Classic. "We'll see how he runs and how he comes out of the race and decide if we'll go forward to the Pacific Classic," Carava said this morning.
Mr. Napper Tandy was fourth in the San Diego.
At Churchill Downs, the Bill Mott-trained Go Between, second to Mast Track in the Hollywood Gold Cup, worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.80 breezing over a fast track Tuesday.
GOLDEN DOC A SIZZLES 5 FURLONGS; TORREY PINES MAY BE NEXT
Golden Doc A, winner of Santa Anita's Grade I Las Virgenes Stakes and third-place finisher in the Grade I Kentucky Oaks, worked a sparkling 5 furlongs in 1:00.40 this morning on Del Mar's main track.
Trainer Barry Abrams was quite contented with the filly's second work back after a freshening at Winner's Circle Ranch in Bradbury. "It was a strong work," Abrams said. "She'll have three more and then she should be ready for the Torrey Pines [one mile on the main track Sunday, August 31]."
Could she possibly run in the Del Mar Oaks on Saturday, August 16? "We'll see how fit she is," he said. "I'll nominate to the Oaks and see."
Del Mar's leading rider, Rafael Bejarano, was in the saddle for the work.
CLEMENT BARN ADDS ANOTHER STAR TO ITS DEL MAR ROSTER
Stakes winner Vacare has arrived in the Christophe Clement barn and is being pointed for the Grade II, $200,00 Palomar Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course Saturday, August 30.
Also set for stakes appearances are In Summation and Satan's Circus. In Summation, who won the 2007 Bing Crosby Handicap and was runner-up this year, will stretch out another furlong for the Grade II, $300,000 Pat O'Brien Handicap Sunday, August 24 at 7 furlongs. As a "Win and You're In event, the winner will get an automatic bid to the Breeders' Cup Sprint.
Satan's Circus, second in Hollywood Park's Grade I American Oaks, is being primed for the Grade I, $350,000 Del Mar Oaks Saturday, August 16.
FULL FIELD OF 10 SET FOR SATURDAY'S LA JOLLA HANDICAP
Ten top-notch 3-year-olds that have inspired Del Mar Derby thoughts in their connections will line up Saturday in the 1 1/16-mile, Grade II La Jolla Handicap on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course.
Heading the field are four returnees from Del Mar's opening-day featured Oceanside Stakes at a mile on the turf. Coming into Saturday's $150,000 La Jolla from the two Oceanside divisions are Moral Compass, an impressive second to Kilderry; Jungle Wave, third in that race; and Liberian Freighter and Tangled Tango, who dead-heated for third in the division won by Dixie Chatter.
Sky Cape is on a two-race win streak in Hollywood Park's Harry Henson and Golden Gate Fields' Alcatraz, Tiz West comes to the race from a nose victory in Hollywood Park's Grade III Cinema Handicap, Madeo was fourth in the Grade II Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park, and Zetterberg hasn't started since a third-place finish in a Hollywood Park allowance race July 12.
Rounding out the field are Coronel Moldes, who will be making his first start in this country, and Nownownow, winner of the 2007 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf who has run only once this year and that was in Ireland May 24 at The Curragh.
Here's the lineup from the rail, with weights and riders: Tangled Tango, 116, Tyler Baze; Coronel Moldes, 115, Jose Valdivia Jr.; Jungle Wave, 115, Joe Talamo; Tiz West, 120; Victor Espinoza; Nownownow, 120, Aaron Gryder; Sky Cape, 117, Joel Rosario; Moral Compass, 118, Corey Nakatani; Zetterberg, 112, Michael Baze; Madeo, 115, Mike Smith; Liberian Freighter, 116, David Flores.
10 JUVENILES WILL LINE UP FOR GRADE II BEST PAL STAKES
Headlined by the appearance of Hollywood Juvenile Champion Azul Leon, a field of 10 2-year-olds will be heading to the post Sunday for Del Mar's Grade II, $150,000 Best Pal Stakes, the major prep for the Grade I Del Mar Futurity slated for closing day, Wednesday, September 3.
The 10 will go 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track in the Best Pal.
Joining Azul Leon in the gate will be Captain Steel, Charlie's Moment, Coronet of a Baron, Fiery Rebel, Fu Peg He Rat, Kelly Leak, Miguel's Mascot, S.S. Stone, and Turbo Call.
EIGHT CAL-BRED 3-YEAR-OLDS VIE IN REAL GOOD DEAL STAKES
Jerry Hollendorfer's Kool Comic, on a three-race victory roll, heads a field of eight for Friday's $100,000 Real Good Deal Stakes for 3-year-old Cal-breds going 7 furlongs on the main track.
After being claimed for $20,000 out of a winning maiden race, the gelded son of Comic Strip has gone up the ladder for two more wins under Hollendorfer's tutelage. He gets the saddle services of leading rider Rafael Bejarano.
Major competition will come from Lethal Heat, the only filly in the field. Barry Abrams' trainee has won five of seven starts this year, including Del Mar's Fleet Treat Stakes July 20 against her sex. Replacing Bejarano, who has been aboard for her last four starts, will be Garrett Gomez.
Here's how they'll line up from the rail, with weights and riders: Dancing in Silks, 123, Joel Rosario; General Dan, 117, Alex Solis; One Chin Again, 117, Corey Nakatani; Waafi, 117, Mike Smith; Kool Comic, 119, Bejarano; Raingear, 117, John Court; Young Joe, 117, Joe Talamo; Lethal Heat, 118, Gomez.
SADLER, BEJARANO CONTINUE HOLDING HEALTHY LEADS
Both trainer John Sadler and jockey Rafael Bejarano take substantial leads in their quests for trainer and jockey titles as the Del Mar season rolls into its fourth week of action.
Sadler beefed up his lead by one on Monday to run his win total to 14 so far, putting him six ahead of his closest pursuers -- Mike Mitchell, Doug O'Neill and Jerry Hollendorfer, each with eight victories.
Meanwhile, Bejarano, even with a winless day Monday, still holds a commanding lead over runners-up Tyler Baze and Joel Rosario. Bejarano has been to the winner's circle 22 times to 16 for Baze and Rosario, who each picked up one win on the leader Monday.
SHORE LINES -- Del Mar Thoroughbred Club President and General Manager Joe Harper will be guest on a special edition of "Talkin' Horses" on BloodHorse.com Friday at noon EDT (9 a.m. PDT). Racing fans are invited to join the discussion or simply monitor the question-and-answer session by going to BloodHorse.com/TalkinHorses ... Del Mar fans head into Wednesday's program looking at a Pick Six carryover from Monday of $140,095. Twenty-seven tickets with five winners paid $2,238.60 ... Super Strut became the first double winner of the meeting with a victory Sunday for trainer Ben Cecil, who had claimed him out of his earlier victory July 19. Delaware Doe followed with his second meet victory for trainer Peter Miller and owners Gary and Cecil Barber Monday ... The 11th annual David Flores Golf Tournament to benefit abandoned children in Flores' native Tijuana will be held Tuesday, August 12 at La Costa Resort & Spa. Competitors will play 18 holes in a four-player scramble format. Shotgun start will be at 1:30 p.m., with an awards ceremony and reception about 6:30 and dinner following ... Colonel John, trained by Eoin Harty and headed for Saratoga's Grade I, $1-million Travers Stakes Saturday, August 23, went 1:00.80 for 5 furlongs this morning on the main track. Other sharp works: 4 furlongs -- Zilla, bullet 45.80 for Bruce Headley, Get Funky, 46.60 for John Sadler and Two Step Salsa, 47.20 for Julio Canani; 6 furlongs -- Dawn Before Dawn, bullet 1:11.80 for Sadler, and Magnificience, 1:12 flat for Headley.
TRAKUS FACTS -- Mon., 8/4 -- Peak Speed: Race 1 (Polytrack) -- My House My Rules -- 43.9 mph (first 3/16ths); Fastest Late Stretch Run: Race 7 (Polytrack) -- Unusual Jane -- 37.2 mph (final 16th). No turf racing Monday.
DEL MAR COMBINED JOCKEY & TRAINER STATISTICS
(Current Through Monday, August 4, 2008)
Jockey -- Mts -- 1st -- 2nd -- 3rd -- Win% -- Money Won
Rafael Bejarano -- 90 -- 22 -- 20 -- 18 -- 24% -- $1,245,150
Tyler Baze -- 93 -- 16 -- 11 -- 14 -- 17% -- $734,922
Joel Rosario -- 90 -- 16 -- 6 -- 14 -- 18% -- $562,020
Garrett Gomez -- 61 -- 10 -- 10 -- 9 -- 16% -- $866,495
Victor Espinoza -- 73 -- 7 -- 9 -- 10 -- 10% -- $496,390
Alex Solis -- 53 -- 6 -- 14 -- 8 -- 11% -- $380,000
David Flores -- 57 -- 6 -- 9 -- 8 -- 11% -- $648,023
Martin Garcia -- 59 -- 6 -- 8 -- 9 -- 10% -- $288,434
Mike Smith -- 34 -- 6 -- 5 -- 3 -- 18% -- $499,841
Aaron Gryder -- 47 -- 6 -- 1 -- 2 -- 13% -- $427,099
Trainer -- Sts -- 1st -- 2nd -- 3rd -- Win% -- Money Won
John W. Sadler -- 54 -- 14 -- 16 -- 2 -- 26% -- $981,817
Doug F. O'Neill -- 43 -- 8 -- 10 -- 5 -- 19% -- $348,589
Mike R. Mitchell -- 36 -- 8 -- 4 -- 6 -- 22% -- $603,470
Jerry Hollendorfer -- 28 -- 8 -- 1 -- 9 -- 29% -- $295,089
Peter Miller -- 22 -- 6 -- 3 -- 2 -- 27% -- $188,700
Clifford W. Sise, Jr. -- 13 -- 5 -- 2 -- 3 -- 38% -- $157,740
Jeff Mullins -- 33 -- 4 -- 10 -- 4 -- 12% -- $189,967
Patrick Gallagher -- 17 -- 4 -- 4 -- 1 -- 24% -- $172,140
Gary Stute -- 15 -- 4 -- 2 -- 1 -- 27% -- $82,160
William Spawr -- 19 -- 4 -- 1 -- 0 -- 21% -- $131,092
Winning Favorites Report
(Current Through Monday, August 4, 2008)
Winning favorites -- 37 out of 154 -- 24.03%
Winning odds-on favorites -- 8 out of 17 -- 47.06%
In-the-Money favorites -- 103 out of 154 -- 66.88%
In-the-Money odds-on favorites -- 15 out of 17 -- 88.24%
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