DEL MAR DAILY NOTEBOOK
SATURDAY, JULY 30
by Brian P. Turner
A field of 10 went to the gate for Saturday’s featured San Clemente H. (G2),
for three-year-old fillies going eight furlongs on the grass. The Bobby Frankel-trained Louvain (Ire) (Sinndar) was sent to the post as the favorite off of the
fact that she has picked up two stakes wins in three starts since coming to
North America. The bay put in a game effort trying to close from off the pace
but could do no better than fourth.
In the end, the day belonged to SHINING ENERGY (Rahy), who rallied from well
off the pace and closed with a nice turn of foot to claim the victory by 1 1/4
lengths. The filly made her first start in North America in February and quickly
reeled off back to back victories, both in impressive fashion. Once she began to
compete against graded stakes company though, the chestnut’s form tailed off
dramatically as she failed miserably as the favorite in two-straight starts. If
this race is any indication though, Shining Energy has regained her form and
will be a solid threat should her connections decide to start her in the Del Mar
Oaks (G1) on August 20.
Memorette (Memo [Chi]) and Royal Copenhagen (Inchinor [GB]) both finished the
San Clemente determinedly to hit the wire simultaneously in a dead-heat for
second.
In addition on Saturday, a field of nine three-year-olds and upward went to
the gate for the Wickerr H., which was also contested at eight furlongs over the
Jimmy Durante Turf Course. TSIGANE (Fr) (Anabaa) was sent off as the post-time
favorite and rewarded his backers by rallying from well off the pace to pick up
the victory by a neck and, in the process, contributed to trainer Julio Canani
sweeping the day’s pair of stakes races. Geronimo (Chi) (Gold Tribute) put in a
solid performance to finish second, a nose in front of Terroplane (Fr) (Verglas
[Ire]) in third.
There was a bit of controversy after the event as there were two claims of
foul lodged against the winner. After studying the replay though, the stewards
left the order of finish intact.
Jockey Garrett Gomez picked up two wins on the day and has moved into a tie
with Victor Espinoza atop the jockey standings with 11 winners each. Patrick
Valenzuela went winless in his first day back from suspension and remains in
second with 10. Jeff Mullins picked up two winners on the day to put in him in
sole possession of the lead in the trainer standings with seven for the meet.
Doug O’Neill picked up one winner on the day and is in second place with six.
There were five sprints contested over the main track with horses on or near
the pace winning four of them. As for the two main track routes, one was won by
a horse on the lead and the other by a runner coming from off the pace. In
addition to the two eight-furlong stakes races, there was one 1 1/16-mile turf
race on the day and, just like the other two, it was won by a horse coming from
off the pace
Horses to Watch
1ST – BIG CITY HIT (Carson City) was involved in a speed duel from the moment
the gate opened in this maiden special event. The three-year-old colt contested
early fractions of :22 and :44 and fought gamely all the way to the wire to come
up three parts of a length short in a scenario that was very similar to his last
race at Hollywood where he also finished second, beaten three parts of a length.
Big City Hit won’t be denied much longer.
4TH – TOUGH GAME (Mr. Greeley) was extremely impressive in this $32,000
claiming event. The six-year-old horse led the field from gate to wire, steadily
widening his lead the entire way. Once the bay hit the finish line, he was five
lengths clear of the field.
Tomorrow’s Outlook – Sunday, July 31
A field of nine is scheduled to go to the gate for Sunday’s six-furlong
$300,000 Bing Crosby H. (G1). Named for one of Del Mar’s founding fathers, the
Bing Crosby has become one of the premier sprint stakes in the country and an
outstanding stepping stone on the road to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). All
eyes will be on multiple Grade 1 winner PICO CENTRAL (Brz) (Spend A Buck), who
will be making his first start since a respectable fourth-place finish, beaten
by only 1 1/2 lengths, in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) back in March. The
question is though whether or not the six-year-old horse is completely cranked
up after his vacation from racing.
Trainer Cole Norman is ready to give his runner TOP COMMANDER (Kingmambo) the
acid test as he is shipping the gelding in from his home base of Louisiana Downs
for the event. The bay has posted some impressive BRIS Speed Ratings in the past
but this will definitely be the toughest field he has faced to date.
STORM WOLF (Stormin Fever) is another in the field with interesting
possibilities as he has three devastating wins to show from four career starts.
In his latest effort, the dark bay crushed the field by six lengths in the
Lazaro Barrera Memorial S. (G2) at Hollywood.
Sunday’s forecast calls for mostly sunny skies with highs in the upper 70s.
Sunday’s Best Plays
6TH – AIR ACE (Forest Camp) and RISING RATE (Exchange Rate) appear to be an
impressive coupled entry, should they both go, in this maiden special event as
the pair has been absolutely burning the track up in the mornings.
Air Ace is a $450,000 purchase by freshman sire Forest Camp (Deputy Minister)
and the few of his progeny that have actually raced thus far have hit the track
ready to roll as out of eight to start, six of them won at first asking. The
dam, Cope’s Light (Copelan), has produced two stakes winners and six total
winners from seven starters, the majority of which won as two-year-olds.
Rising Rate will probably not garner the attention of his entry mate but he
is no slouch himself as he is a $425,000 purchase who is coming off of a :47
work over the Del Mar strip, the third-fastest time of the 22 that worked a half
mile that morning.
8TH – BATTLE WON (Honour and Glory) could be a square price play for those
willing to play against, or looking for something to put with, Pico Central in
the Bing Crosby. The dark bay holds a record of 6-3-2-1 at the distance and his BRIS Pace and Speed Ratings as of late are on par with the best of the field.
Though it can be argued that the gelding has had his greatest success at
Churchill Downs, he almost always puts in a game performance regardless of the
track or surface. Toss in the fact that trainer Charles Simon has enlisted
Patrick Valenzuela for the ride and there is a lot to like.