Dullahan, third behind I’ll Have Another in the Kentucky Derby after winning the Blue Grass Stakes last spring, won going away by a half-length over a courageous Game on Dude who turned for home with a clear advantage under Chantal Sutherland.
Dullahan, a son of Even the Score owned by the Donegal Stable and trained by Dale Romans, accomplished the mile and one-quarter over Del Mar’s Polytrack in a fast 1:59.54, breaking the track record of 2:00.61 set by Acclamation in the Pacific Classic last summer.
Sent postward the third betting choice at 5-1, Dullahan paid $12.60, $5.20 and $3.40. The winner’s share of $600,000 for his third success in a dozen starts increased the colt’s bankroll to $1,702,091. According to race conditions, as a three-year-old Dullahan carried 118 pounds. He is the fourth sophomore to win Del Mar’s signature race, following Best Pal, General Challenge and Came Home.
Runner-up Game on Dude, who was attempting to complete a sweep of California’s major races for older horses after winning the Santa Anita Handicap last year and the Hollywood Gold Cup in 2012, returned $3.20 and $2.40, while Richard’s Kid paid $3 to show.
Sunday’s attendance was 34,482.
