DEL MAR DAILY NOTEBOOK
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2005
by Brian P. Turner
Thursday’s 7TH race was an optional-claiming event for three-year-olds and up
going 11 furlongs over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. A field of eight went to
the post headed by MUCH FASTER (Brz) (Royal Academy), who was sent off as the
post time favorite. The chestnut rewarded the chalk players by stalking the pace
early and closing well through the stretch to hit the wire a length in front.
It’s Quite Unusual (Unusual Heat) put in a nice late run as well but was
forced to settle for the place, 1 1/2 lengths clear of a fast-closing Private
Chef (Partner’s Hero) in third.
Afterward, a claim of foul was lodged by Barry Abrams, the trainer of It’s
Quite Unusual, against the winner but the stewards quickly ruled that the order
of finish would stand.
There were four sprints contested on the main track today and horses on or
near the pace won two while horses coming from off the pace won two. The lone
main track route was won via disqualification by a horse stalking the pace,
though the horse that hit the wire first was a front runner. In addition to the
7TH, there was one other turf route contested on the day, which was won by a
runner closing from off the pace, while the lone turf sprint was won by a horse
closely stalking the lead.
Garrett Gomez booted home three winners on the day and has moved into a tie
for the top spot with in the jockey standings with Victor Espinoza. The pair has
37 winners each. Patrick Valenzuela went winless on the day and remains in third
with 29 winners for the meet.
Jeff Mullins picked up a win on the day to maintain his lead in the trainer
standings and now has 17 for the meet. Doug O’Neill picked up a win on the day
as well and has moved back into a tie for the second spot with Bob Baffert. The
pair has 15 winners each.
Horses to Watch
2ND – PREACHINMANDAN (Pulpit) was the victim of a tough disqualification in
this eight-furlong maiden special event. The two-year-old colt went to the front
out of the gate and battled for the lead through early fractions that went in
:22 2/5 and :46 1/5. Once the field came off the final turn, the chestnut was
involved in a bit of bumping but continued on gamely to the wire to hit the
finish line a head in front. Unfortunately, Preachinmandan was disqualified from
the win and placed second for the incident at the top of the stretch. He is a
solid threat to break his maiden in his next start.
3RD – BARTOK OF SIAM (Bartok [Ire]) trailed the field through the early
stages of this Cal-bred maiden special turf event. Once the field hit the
stretch, the bay was trapped behind a wall of horses but once he got switched to
the outside, he began closing with a tremendous turn of foot. The troubles
weren’t over for Bartok of Siam as he was then forced to alter course to keep
from making contact with another horse in the field. The gelding continued on
gamely to the wire but had no chance of running down the winner at this point
and was forced to settle for second. A clean trip next out could land this one
in the winner’s circle.
Tomorrow’s Outlook – Friday, August 26
A mere field of six is scheduled to go to the post for Friday’s CCT And
Thoroughbred Owners Of California H. for fillies and mares, three-years-old and
up, going 11 furlongs over the lawn. Trainer Neil Drysdale’s COLD COLD WOMAN
(GB) (Machiavellian) will be one among the field to keep an eye on. The chestnut
is coming off of a second place effort, beaten by only a nose, against the boys
over this very turf course and at this very distance.
Drysdale will also be sending out SECRET CHARM (Ire) (Green Desert) who is
coming off a fourth-place finish in the Osunitas H. here earlier in the meet.
The bay only came up three lengths short that day and it will be interesting to
see how she handles the added distance as she has never run further than 1 1/16
miles in her nine race career.
Friday’s forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and highs in the upper 70s.
Friday’s Best Plays
5TH – BEST FRIEND GRACIE (Free House) could prove to be a tough customer in
this Cal-bred maiden special event. The dark bay is coming off of a second place
effort here earlier in the meet where she dueled gamely through the stretch to
come up a nose short at the wire. Best Friend Gracie has an advantage of over
five points in the BRIS Prime Power category and her BRIS Speed rating last out
tops the field. The three-year-old filly’s BRIS Pace ratings indicate that
jockey David Flores should be able to place her on or near the lead early and
still have plenty left for the run to the wire.
8TH – DEL MAR STORM (Crowning Storm) was claimed out of his last effort here
at Del Mar and will be making his first start for new trainer Jeff Mullins, who
is an outstanding 34 percent in the “1st After Claim” trainer category. The
chestnut has put in three solid works since his last start including a “bullet”
clocking of :46 2/5 here on August 21. Though Del Mar Storm will be stretching
out to a route for the first time in his career, his pedigree says is should be
no problem and Mullins wins 26 percent of the time in the “1st at Route” trainer
category. The fact that the gelding will be getting Alex Solis, who has combined
with Mullins for a 43 percent win rate over the last 60 days, only adds to the
list of things to like.