Thursday, September 02 2010
Hi Ho Yodeler Wins Generous Portion Stakes
Under a perfect ride from jockey Patrick Valenzuela, longshot Hi Ho Yodeler darted between horses at the top of the stretch and went on to win the featured $100,000 Generous Portion for California-bred two-year-old fillies Wednesday.
Hi Ho Yodeler, a 15-1 outsider in a field of 13 fillies, broke alertly, was moved to the rail to track the leaders, was guided around a single rival, Miles Rules, in the upper stretch and quickly drew off to win by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:11.51 for six furlongs.
Del Mar Stable Notes 9/1/10
WICKEDLY PERFECT LEADS DOZEN JUVENILE FILLIES IN DEBUTANTE
The undefeated Wickedly Perfect, trained by Del Mar's leading conditioner, Doug O'Neill, takes the spotlight in a field of 12 2-year-old fillies, including two supplementary entries, in Saturday's Grade I, $250,000 Darley Debutante at 7 furlongs on the main track.
Wickedly Perfect broke her maiden at first asking at Hollywood Park and polished off a competitive field of seven in Del Mar's Grade III Sorrento Stakes on August 6. She's worked once since, going an easy 6 furlongs in 1:14.40 last Friday. Rafael Bejarano retains the ride on the daughter of Congrats that was bought for $70,000 at the Ocala Breeders Sales April sale of 2-year-olds in training.
Tuesday, August 31 2010
Attendance Still Up, Handle Off Slightly at Six-Week Mark
Figures at the six-week point of the Del Mar race meeting continued to follow the same pattern they have all meet long with attendance up over 2009's numbers, while overall handle is down slightly from last summer's bet amounts.
Through Sunday's (8/29/10) 30th day of the track's 37-day session, the daily average on-track crowd count was up 2.3% from 18,179 per afternoon in 2009 to 18,605 this year.
Monday, August 30 2010
Champ Pegasus Wins Del Mar Handicap
Champ Pegasus, the 3-2 favorite under leading rider Joel Rosario, rallied along the rail through the stretch with an impressive burst of speed to win the featured $200,000 Del Mar Handicap Sunday before 14,913 fans.
Outrun in the early stages of the mile and three-eighths marathon over the infield grass course, Champ Pegasus saved ground on the final turn then made his move in the final eighth to win by 1 1/4 lengths in a fast 2:11.93 for the distance.
Buenos Dias, a 10-1 outsider ridden by Brice Blanc, won the battle for runner-up honors, nosing out Worth Repeating. Falcon Rock was fourth in the field of nine older horses. Unusual Suspect, who contested Saturday's Pacific Classic, was withdrawn.
Just What Does It Mean to Win A Riding Title at Del Mar?
The race to win the riding title at Del Mar is always a competitive thing and this year is no different with 2008 winner Rafael Bejarano and 2009 champion Joel Rosario locked in a head-to-head struggle for the prize.
With the title go bragging rights, a trophy and an increased profile among trainers and owners on the Southern California horizon -- and beyond.
Del Mar Stable Notes 8/29/10
ALL STAKES WINNERS IN GOOD SHAPE AFTER PACIFIC CLASSIC DAY
Richard's Kid and El Brujo, winners of the Pacific Classic -- Presented by TVG and Pat O'Brien Stakes and both from the Bob Baffert barn, were reported in good shape this morning after Saturday's winning efforts in the Grade I stakes.
Richard's Kid, repeating as defending champion in Del Mar's signature race, earned an automatic bid to the Breeders' Cup Classic and El Brujo gets a guaranteed spot in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, both on Saturday, November 6. Saturday's victories served as a reprise of 2009 for Baffert -- Richard's Kid won the Classic and Zensational won the Pat O'Brien.
Sunday, August 29 2010
Del Mar Stable Notes 8/28/10
THE USUAL Q.T. LEADS FIELD OF 10 INTO 20TH PACIFIC CLASSIC
Guaranteed a stalking trip in today's Grade I, $1-million Pacific Classic -- Presented by TVG, morning-line favorite The Usual Q.T.'s big late kick should be served well as he seeks his third straight victory and second straight Grade I at Del Mar.
In each of his eight career victories, except one, the 4-year-old gelded son of California stallion Unusual Heat has been on the lead at the stretch call. In that one, the 2009 Hollywood Derby, he was a head back in second before drawing off for the win.
Saturday, August 28 2010
Del Mar’s Craig Fravel Named to The Jockey Club
Craig Fravel, president and general manager of Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, has been elected to The Jockey Club, Thoroughbred racing's oldest and most prestigious organization. The announcement, along with notice that seven other industry individuals also were elected, was made today by the group, which has offices in New York City and Lexington, Kentucky.
The Jockey Club, founded in 1894, is dedicated to the improvement of Thoroughbred breeding and racing and is comprised of approximately 100 invited individuals distinguished by their contributions to the industry.
Del Mar Stable Notes 8/27/10
BATTLE OF HASTINGS ARRIVES FOR CONQUEST OF PACIFIC CLASSIC
The last of the 10 hopefuls for Saturday's Grade I, $1-million Pacific Classic -- Presented by TVG, Battle of Hastings, came aboard about 6:30 this morning and tested the track later in the morning under the watchful eye of Jesus Sosa, foreman for trainer Jeff Mullins.
The 4-year-old son of Royal Applause jogged a mile and galloped a mile, Sosa said. The multiple stakes winner on turf returns to Del Mar to try the main track for a second time, having finished a strong second to Dakota Phone in the Grade II San Diego Handicap July 31.
Friday, August 27 2010
Del Mar Stable Notes 8/26/10
ALL APPEARS WELL WITH $1-MILLION PACIFIC CLASSIC PROSPECTS
As the contenders for Saturday's Grade I, $1-million Pacific Classic -- Presented by TVG continue to move forward, they're heading toward the clash at a gallop, so to speak.
That's the usual work schedule for the 10 prospects, though some alter the routine with trips to the paddock and to the gate.
Thursday, August 26 2010
Del Mar Stable Notes 8/25/10
TEN SET TO GO IN 20TH $1-MILLION PACIFIC CLASSIC SATURDAY
All the serious work is finished, the entries are in and the post positions are drawn.
Now it's time to put the finishing touches on what trainers of the 10 entrants hope will be an effort to remember in Saturday's Grade I, $1-million Pacific Classic -- Presented by TVG at 1 1/4 miles on the main track. The nationally televised event will be run at approximately 4:45 p.m. as the eighth race on the day-s 11-race program and will cap a three-graded-stakes day at Del Mar, the others being the Grade I Pat O'Brien Stakes at 7 furlongs and the Grade II Del Mar Mile on grass.
Wednesday, August 25 2010
Ten Enter $1-Million Pacific Classic; The Usual Q.T. Draws Favorite’s Role
DEL MAR, CA -- Ten horses were entered Tuesday (8/24/10) to run in Saturday's 20th edition of the Grade I, $1,000,000 Pacific Classic -- Presented by TVG. The mile and one-quarter headliner, the richest race in the west, will anchor an 11-race card here that also includes two other graded stakes and has an early first post of 1 p.m.
The deep and competitive field finds its focus in a trio of stakes stars -- the 4-year-old The Usual Q.T., the 5-year-old Richard's Kid and the 7-year-old Awesome Gem. Del Mar's morning line maker, Russell Hudak, has listed those three as his top choices with The Usual Q.T., owned by Don Van Racing, Inc., Nentwig, et al, the lukewarm favorite at 3-1. Zabeel Racing International Corp.'s Richard's Kid, the winner of this race last year, is second choice at 7/2 and the veteran Awesome Gem, owned by the racing partnership group West Point Thoroughbreds, Inc., sits next in line at 9/2.
