DEL MAR DAILY NOTEBOOK
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2005
by Brian P. Turner
A field of seven, including one coupled entry, went to the gate for
Wednesday’s featured Escondido H. for three-year-olds and upward going 11
furlongs over the lawn. Trainer Bobby Frankel’s Qsar (Ger) (Tiger Hill [Ire])
was scratched from the field as was Julio Canani’s Sleepless Joy (Joyeux
Danseur), taking a bit of the luster off of what had been a very solid field.
After all was said and done though, the race still provided more than its
share of drama as once the field hit the stretch, it became a two horse race
between favorite LAURA’S LUCKY BOY (Theatrical [Ire]), who had been just a
little off the pace early, and last year’s champion Sarafan (Lear Fan), who had
been lying next to last early. The pair dueled gamely through the stretch with
Sarafan gaining the lead late to hit the wire a head in front of his rival,
apparently defending his championship and apparently establishing a new course
record of 2:12 for 11 furlongs.
In no time at all though the “Inquiry” light began flashing on the tote board
and the stewards went about viewing replay after replay, which revealed that
there had been some contact made through the stretch drive with the greatest
majority of it occurring just as the pair was crossing the wire. The stewards
deliberated for what seemed like an eternity but eventually ruled to disqualify
Sarafan from first to second, giving Laura’s Lucky Boy the victory.
Continental Red (Flying Continental) put in a game effort from just off the
pace to cross the finish line two lengths farther back in third.
When asked just after the race about what is next for Laura’s Lucky Boy,
trainer Richard Mandella indicated that they are aiming for the Del Mar H. (G2)
on August 28.
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela picked up two wins on the day to open up a bit of
breathing room in the rider standings with 16 winners for the meet. Garrett
Gomez also rode two winners and Victor Espinoza grabbed one, putting the pair in
a tie for second with 14 winners each.
Bob Baffert picked up a win on the day to move into a tie with Jeff Mullins
atop the trainer standings. The pair has eight winners each. Doug O’Neill is
still in third with six winners for the meet.
There were four sprints contested on the main track Wednesday and there was
an equal distribution as horses on or near the pace won twice and runners coming
from off the pace captured the other two races. As for the two main track
routes, runners near the pace won both of them. In addition to the Escondido,
there was one other turf route contested today and it was won in gate-to-wire
fashion.
With two full weeks of racing in the book, now would be an ideal time to take
a look at the track bias for the meet as a whole through Monday, August 1. As
for the main track sprints, horses on or near the pace have held a solid
advantage. At 5 1/2 furlongs, horses on or near the pace have won 12 of the 16
races, and at 6 1/2 furlongs they have won 10 of 13. The lone exception would be
six-furlong races where horses coming from off the pace held an advantage early
in the meet, but the bias has changed over the past few days and it now stands
that 14 of the 25 races at this distance have been won by horses on or near the
lead.
In the main track routes, the bias isn’t nearly as pronounced as 10 of the 17
races contested at either a mile or 1 1/16 miles have been won by runners near
the front of the pack.
On the Jimmy Durante Turf Course, runners coming from off the pace have
dominated the eight furlong routes, winning 10 of the 11 contested. At 1 1/16
miles, a bias hasn’t really been as noticeable given that only six of the 11
races run were won by horses closing on the leaders. At distances nine furlongs
and greater, three of the four races were won by horses coming from off the
pace. As for the grass sprints, there really haven’t been enough races contested
at those distances to provide any meaningful information as to how they are
playing at this time.
Horses to Watch
3RD – MY MISS STORM CAT (Sea Of Secrets) returned from her lay off of over a
year with a visually impressive performance. The three-year-old filly was
content to lay a half length to a length off the lead early in this allowance
event before coming through on the inside to take the lead in a quarter that
went in :21 4/5. The dark bay then opened up through the stretch, under a hold
and without ever seeing the whip, to hit the finish line six lengths in front.
4TH – DANCING EDIE (Moscow Ballet) made her second start on the grass an
impressive one as he took the lead out of the gate and never looked back in this
Cal-bred maiden special event to hit the finish line seven lengths clear of the
field.
Tomorrow’s Outlook – Thursday, August 4
A mere field of five is scheduled to contest Thursday’s featured event, a 6
1/2 furlong optional claiming event for fillies and mares, three-years-old and
up. SIPHON HONEY (Siphon [Brz]) will probably be the one to beat but beware of
FREAKIN STREAKIN (Tactical Advantage), who will be making the turf to dirt move
in her second start for Julio Canani, and Florida invader CUT THE MUSTARD
(Double Honour), who will be making her first start for trainer Bill Spawr.
Thursday’s forecast calls for sunny skies and a high of 76.
Thursday’s Best Plays
3RD – COSMIC LADY (High Brite) appears to tower over the field in this
$20,000 claiming event. The bay’s BRIS Speed Ratings tops the field and she
holds a solid advantage of over six points in the BRIS Prime Power category. The
three-year-old filly will be taking a bit of a class drop for this event and
trainer Frank Monteleone is a solid 21 percent in the “Down One Class” trainer
category. Valenzuela has ridden Cosmic Lady in each of her last two starts and
will be reunited with her for a third time, only adding to the list of things to
like.
6TH – SONG SUNG GOLD (Sultry Song) will be making the move from the grass to
the main track in this maiden claiming event and trainer Vladimir Cerin wins 21
percent of the time with the “Turf to Dirt” maneuver. The four-year-old filly
has a 13 point BRIS Prime Power advantage and her BRIS Pace Ratings indicate
that she can have things her own way on the lead. Cerin has enlisted David
Flores for the mount and the two have combined for 29 percent winners over the
last 60 days.