DEL MAR DAILY NOTEBOOK
SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2005
by Brian P. Turner
A field of 10 contested Sunday’s Del Mar H. (G2) for three-year-olds and up
going 11 furlongs over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. This was an extremely
wide-open affair as six of the 10 in the field were sent off at odds of 8-1 or
less with the Dan Hendricks-trained Runaway Dancer (Runaway Groom) being sent
off as the 2-1 favorite.
When the field left the gate, LEPRECHAUN KID (Alphabet Soup) sprang to the
early lead and absolutely no one in the field moved up to challenge. The gray
was allowed to set somewhat pedestrian fractions of :24 3/5 and :49 while
sitting on a 4 1/2-length lead. Once the field approached the final turn,
Laura’s Lucky Boy (Theatrical [Ire]), who had loped behind the pacesetter in
second, began to mount a serious challenge and collared the leader as the pair
made their way down the stretch.
Laura’s Lucky Boy actually poked his head in front and looked as if he would
continue to go running on by but Leprechaun Kid wasn’t finished and re-rallied
along the rail to take the victory by a head bob in a photo at the wire. It was
another four lengths back to the Bobby Frankel-trained Exterior (Distant View)
in third.
There were five sprints contested on the main track today and horses on or
near the pace won four of them while the lone main-track route was won by a
runner coming from off the pace. In addition to the feature, there were two
other turf routes contested today and a horse stalking within three lengths won
one of them while the other was won by a horse closing from farther back.
Victor Espinoza and Garrett Gomez each picked up a win of the day which
allowed Espinoza to maintain the margin of his lead in the jockey standings. The
score currently stands at 42 to 39. Patrick Valenzuela went winless on the day
and remains in third with 31 winners for the meet.
As for the trainers, Jeff Mullins saddled a winner on Sunday and is still in
command atop the trainer standings with 19 for the meet. Both Bob Baffert and
Doug O’Neill went winless and remain in a tie for second with 16 winners each.
Horses to Watch
1ST – CATCH MY FANCY (Yes It’s True) had an extremely impressive career debut
for trainer Craig Dollase. The two-year-old filly broke well from the gate and
vied for the lead through early fractions of :22 and :44 4/5 before opening up
on the field to hit the finish line five lengths clear of the field under little
more than a hand ride. Catch My Fancy could prove to be any sort.
3RD – BEDUGUL (Boundary) was full of run at the top of the stretch in this 1
1/16-mile turf maiden special event. Unfortunately, the chestnut was trapped
behind a wall of horses at the time. Jockey Rene Douglas attempted to go through
a hole that disappeared as quickly as it appeared and was forced to check at
which point the filly lost all chance. Bedugul finished evenly, crossing the
finish line in fourth, but a clean trip next out could find her in the winner’s
circle.
6TH – HEAVY TRAFFIC (Elusive Quality) broke his maiden impressively in this,
his fifth career start. The four-year-old colt broke from the gate sharply,
something he had not done particularly well in the past, and guided the way
through opening fractions of :22 1/5 and :44 4/5. Once the field hit the
stretch, the bay sprinted off and left his competition behind, crossing the
finish line 5 1/2 lengths clear of his nearest rival and 13 1/2 lengths clear of
the third-place finisher.
7TH – RESIDENT ALIEN (Bertrando) is making a return to the “Watch” list after
easily handling this starter allowance field. The three-year-old filly stalked
the pace early then moved up to challenge before the turn. Once she hit the
stretch, the dark bay took the lead and carried on gamely through the stretch to
cross the wire two lengths in front under little more than a hand ride.
DIAMOND FOR KACI (Diamond For King [Fr]) is also returning to the “Watch”
list. Though she finished second to Resident Alien, she was making a nice
closing move late and is a definite threat to return to the winner’s circle in
her next start.
Tomorrow’s Outlook – Monday, August 29
Monday’s 7TH race is an optional-claiming event for fillies and mares,
three-years-old and up, contested at eight furlongs on the lawn. The Bobby
Frankel trained DOMAINE (Chi) (Hussonet) is one among the field to keep an eye
on. The four-year-old filly is coming off of a fourth-place effort against
similar where she was beaten by only a length. Domaine had her share of trouble
that race and is capable of making it into the winner’s circle with a clean
trip.
GLASSY (Run Softly) is another in the field that holds interesting
possibilities. The dark bay returned from a 10 month layoff last out with a
solid effort where she stalked the pace early on her way to a game victory
against allowance company. NEWYEARRESOLUTION (Arch) could find herself with an
uncontested lead in this affair and with the way speed has held its own on the
grass, she is more than capable of taking this field from gate to wire.
Monday’s forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and highs in the upper 70s.
Monday’s Best Plays
3RD – INDY MISS (A.P. Indy) will be making her first career start in this
maiden special turf event but she could be capable of pulling off the victory at
what could be a square price. The two-year-old filly has a solid pedigree for
the lawn in that A.P. Indy’s progeny win a respectable 12 percent of the time
in their first try on the surface and the dam, Champagnarde (Arg) (Oak Dancer
[GB]), has produced four grass winners from seven starters. Among these is
Lovely Rafaela, a full sister to Indy Miss, who was the winner of the 2004
Honeymoon Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) on the turf at Hollywood. The bay has been
working steadily since early July which includes three works at seven furlongs.
Trainer Richard Mandella is a respectable 12 percent in the “1st Time Starter”
trainer category and 16 percent in the “1st At Route” category. Jon Court, who
wins with 15 percent of his turf mounts, has been enlisted for the ride, only
adding to the list of things to like.
7TH – Newyearresolution could prove to be a solid play in this optional-claiming event. The dark bay’s BRIS Early Pace ratings tower over the field
which should ensure that jockey Gomez should be able to put her on the lead if
the pace is soft but she has also shown the ability to rate which will benefit
her if another runner in the field wants to set hot early fractions. Trainer
Julio Canani has been red hot for the meet, winning with nine of his 27 starters
and he wins with 23 percent of his turf starters over all.