Midnight Lute, 2007 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner and Eclipse Award champion, sizzled 7 furlongs under jockey Martin Pedroza in a workout this morning in 1:21.60, faster than the track record of 1:22.46 for the distance set by the filly Lethal Heat in Del Mar's Fleet Treat Stakes July 20.
Trainer Bob Baffert, who was at Saratoga Race Course overseeing his horses there, has not yet settled on where Midnight Lute might run next, but the August 24 Grade II, $300,000 Pat O'Brien Handicap has been mentioned in past conversations. The trainer also has as an option the Grade I, $250,000 Forego Handicap at Saratoga August 30.
The Pat O'Brien is part of the Breeders' Cup's "Win and You're In" program that gives an automatic berth to the winner for the $2-million Breeders' Cup Sprint on Saturday, October 25 at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.
SADLER DUO EXITS SORRENTO WELL, LOOKS AHEAD TO DEBUTANTE
Ever-cordial John Sadler was his usual self this morning following his 1-3 finish in Wednesday's Grade III Sorrento Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. "They both came out of the race in good shape," he said. "We'll be looking at the Debutante."
The Grade I, $250,000 Del Mar Debutante is set for Monday, September 1 at 7 furlongs on the main track.
"They both ran really well," Sadler continued. "The winner had the best trip but I don't want to take anything away from her. I won't make any excuses for my other horse. They are both good types and they're healthy. I expect them to be good two-turn horses."
He indicated the $2-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies is the long-term goal for both. The Juvenile Fillies will be run Friday, October 24 at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.
ABRAMS EXPECTS BIG EFFORT FROM FILLY AGAINST MALES
Never one to look convention in the eye and wait for it to blink, trainer Barry Abrams isn't one to second-guess his decisions.
And so it is with the choice of Lethal Heat to run against males in Friday's $100,000 Real Good Deal Stakes for California-breds at 7 furlongs on the main track. "She's a big, strong filly," he said, "and I'm having a hard time handling her in the morning. If I send her out to work she's going to go in 1:10, so I might as well race her. She's fit and ready.
"I'd love to win, but she just needs to come back in good shape and then we'll run in the Oaks next weekend." The Grade I, $350,000 Del Mar Oaks will be run at 1 1/8 miles on the Jimmy Durante Turf Saturday, August 16.
The perceived taboo against fillies running against males leaves Abrams puzzled. "Anywhere else in the world, fillies and mares run against males all the time. Why not here?"
Lethal Heat, another in the long line of Unusual Heat progeny to make a mark in racing in California, will take on seven 3-year-old colts or geldings in the Real Good Deal. She comes to the race with by far the best record in the field with five wins in seven lifetime starts, all this year.
Kool Comic, working on a three-race win streak, could be a danger, as could Young Joe, who finished fourth to Leonides in Hollywood Park's Captain Squire, and Raingear, who was sixth in the Dixie Chatter division of the Oceanside Stakes, but beaten only 2 3/4 lengths.
CONSERVATIVE MACHOWSKY KEEN ON BEST PAL'S KELLY LEAK
While excitement is high in the Doug O'Neill barn -- and rightly so -- for Hollywood Juvenile champion Azul Leon, enthusiasm is quite obvious about a half-mile away in the barn of trainer Mike Machowsky.
That's where Kelly Leak is bedded down. He's one of nine 2-year-olds who will challenge Azul Leon in Sunday's Grade II, $150,000 Best Pal Stakes and trainer Machowsky is high on his chances. "He loves the track here," Machowsky said, "and Victor [jockey Victor Espinoza] has worked him several times and says he's doing better here than he ever did at Santa Anita."
Machowsky said he chose to pass the Hollywood Juvenile Championship and wait for Del Mar. "I wasn't interested in just getting a lot of races into him," he said. "I really was hoping to run him in an allowance race early in the meet not in a race as tough as the Best Pal is going to be, but nothing filled."
The trainer believes the colt's tactical speed will serve him well in the Best Pal, run at 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track. Kelly Leak's fondness for the surface is reflected in three solid workouts at Del Mar, two at 6 furlongs and one at five. Espinoza has been aboard for each work, as he was this morning for a 3-furlong blowout in an easy 37 flat.
Here's how they'll line up from the rail, with weights and riders: Captain Steel, 117, Clinton Potts; S.S. Stone, 117, Garrett Gomez; Miguel's Mascot, 123, David Flores; Fu Peg He Rat, 117, Tyler Baze; Coronet of a Baron, 117, Corey Nakatani; Fiery Rebel, 117, Martin Garcia; Turbo Call, 117, Julio Garcia; Charlie's Moment, 117, Jon Court; Azul Leon, 123, Rafael Bejarano; Kelly Leak, 117, Victor Espinoza.
SHORE LINES -- Rails on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course will move to zero from the present 14 feet Friday ... Saturday fans will be treated to a free concert in the Infield featuring reggae star Ziggy Marley. Reggae music will begin with San Diego-based Common Sense at 3:30 in the Infield Pavilion and Julian Marley will perform a set following the last race of the day, and brother Ziggy will follow him as the featured artist of the day ... The Bravery will be in concert Friday as part of the weekly Four O'Clock Friday celebration in the Plaza de Mexico following the day's final race. This Friday marks the final 4 p.m. first post; the final three Fridays of sunset racing will have a first post of 3:30 ... Del Mar's regular weekend free handicapping seminars start Friday with Daily Racing Form staffers Brad Free and Steve Andersen from 3 to 3:30 p.m. at the Seaside Terrace near the head of the stretch. On Saturday, Mel Proctor , former S.D. Padres Announcer and avid handicapper, will hold forth and on Sunday, racing author and editor Frank Scatoni will be featured. The experts will share their handicapping insights and will air their picks on the day's program at the Seaside Terrace from 12:30 to 1:15 each afternoon ... Bing Crosby Handicap winner Street Boss was back on the track for his first work since the victory, breezing 3 furlongs in 37 seconds flat. He's being pointed to the Ancient Title Handicap at Santa Anita in advance of a run in the $2-million Breeders' Cup Sprint at 6 furlongs Saturday, October 25 at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.
TRAKUS FACTS -- Wed., 8/6 -- Peak Speed: Race 7 (Polytrack) -- Cosmic Queen -- 43.4 mph (first 3/16ths); Race 2 (Turf) -- Bashert -- 44.0 mph (first 3/16ths); Fastest Late Stretch Run: Race 3 (Polytrack) -- Gamblers Rule -- 36.8 mph (final 16th); Race 2 (Turf) -- Pocosin's Game Boy -- 40.0 mph (final 16th).
DEL MAR COMBINED JOCKEY & TRAINER STATISTICS
(Current Through Wednesday, August 6, 2008)
Jockey -- Mts -- 1st -- 2nd -- 3rd -- Win% -- Money Won
Rafael Bejarano -- 95 -- 23 -- 22 -- 18 -- 24% -- $1,285,690
Tyler Baze -- 98 -- 17 -- 11 -- 15 -- 17% -- $836,426
Joel Rosario -- 96 -- 17 -- 6 -- 15 -- 18% -- $593,020
Garrett Gomez -- 65 -- 10 -- 10 -- 9 -- 15% -- $871,675
Victor Espinoza -- 76 -- 8 -- 9 -- 10 -- 11% -- $509,490
Martin Garcia -- 63 -- 7 -- 10 -- 9 -- 11% -- $341,434
Alex Solis -- 57 -- 6 -- 14 -- 11 -- 11% -- $396,260
David Flores -- 59 -- 6 -- 9 -- 9 -- 10% -- $666,423
Mike Smith -- 36 -- 6 -- 6 -- 3 -- 17% -- $530,241
Aaron Gryder -- 50 -- 6 -- 1 -- 2 -- 12% -- $429,399
Trainer -- Sts -- 1st -- 2nd -- 3rd -- Win% -- Money Won
John W. Sadler -- 56 -- 15 -- 16 -- 3 -- 27% -- $1,089,817
Mike R. Mitchell -- 41 -- 9 -- 5 -- 7 -- 22% -- $632,610
Doug F. O'Neill -- 47 -- 8 -- 11 -- 5 -- 17% -- $365,909
Jerry Hollendorfer -- 29 -- 8 -- 1 -- 9 -- 28% -- $295,489
Peter Miller -- 24 -- 7 -- 3 -- 2 -- 29% -- $224,500
Clifford W. Sise, Jr. -- 14 -- 5 -- 2 -- 3 -- 36% -- $158,160
Jeff Mullins -- 35 -- 4 -- 10 -- 4 -- 11% -- $199,367
Patrick Gallagher -- 19 -- 4 -- 4 -- 2 -- 21% -- $176,720
Gary Stute -- 15 -- 4 -- 2 -- 1 -- 27% -- $82,160
William Spawr -- 20 -- 4 -- 1 -- 1 -- 20% -- $140,296
Winning Favorites Report
(Current Through Wednesday, August 6, 2008)
Winning favorites -- 38 out of 162 -- 23.46%
Winning odds-on favorites -- 8 out of 18 -- 44.44%
In-the-Money favorites -- 108 out of 162 -- 66.67%
In-the-Money odds-on favorites -- 16 out of 18 -- 88.89%