9/7/09
Last updated: 9/6/09 8:52 PM
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The 22-1 Rendezvous (left) upset favorite Battle of Hastings
(Benoit Photo) |
Having fallen short in both the La Jolla H. (G2) and Oceanside S. earlier in
the Del Mar meet, and being winless on grass since taking a $40,000 maiden
claimer at Calder last November, RENDEZVOUS (Victory Gallop) was understandably
dismissed at 22-1 in Sunday’s $350,000
Del Mar
Derby (G2). That feeling was the correct one until literally the final yards
of the nine-furlong, firm-turf feature when the chestnut made a winning surge to beat
2-1 favorite Battle of Hastings (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]) by a nose in a time
of 1:46 4/5. The longshot paid $46, $14.40 and $8.80.
Rendezvous had just one horse beaten through the opening half-mile as 59-1
outsider Acclamation (Unusual Heat) set a swift pace of :23 1/5, :46 4/5 and
1:11. The front runner turned back a challenge around the far turn and opened up
a 1 1/2-length advantage with a furlong remaining, but soon yielded to Battle of
Hastings, who had made a steady advancement from midpack. That one’s lead
between calls was short-lived, however, as the winner found room through traffic
and closed with a rush to pull the upset under Joel Rosario.
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Battle of Hastings, entering off a score in the Virginia Derby (G2), paid
$3.80 and $3. Acclamation was three parts of a length behind in third and
returned $10.60. The $1 exotics were worth $86.70 (exacta), $1,655 (trifecta)
and $12,652.20 (1-4-9-3 superfecta) with fourth-placer Meteore (Pulpit). Next
under the wire were Oil Man (Ire) (Pyrus), Gretsky (Toccet), Papa Clem (Smart
Strike) and Midnight Mischief (Medaglia d’Oro). Oceanside winner Afleet Eagle
(Northern Afleet) was pulled up around the far turn.
“I was a little disappointed with his race in the Oceanside, but I like to
stick with horses I think have talent,” said trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who
co-owns Rendezvous with George Todaro and Team Green. “I hope he continues to
improve.”
Hollendorfer has the November 7 Oak Tree Derby (G2) and the November 29 Hollywood Derby (G1) in mind for
Rendezvous’ next two starts.
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Rendezvous was snapping a six-race losing skid
(Benoit Photo) |
After breaking his maiden in his fourth career start for trainer John Shaw,
Rendezvous was moved to Hollendorfer’s Northern California base, where he
promptly won his first two starts over the Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields. He was
winless in six subsequent starts going into the Del Mar Derby, though he did run
second in the La Jolla and third in the El Camino Real Derby (G3) and Oceanside
during the span. With this initial stakes triumph, the sophomore has bankrolled
$334,505 from a line of 13-4-2-4.
Rendezvous is the first foal produced from the unraced Halo Babe (Southern
Halo), who also has an unnamed yearling colt by The Cliff’s Edge. Rendezvous’
third dam was the Grade 1-winning Delicate Vine (Knights Choice), who is
responsible for the Grade 2 winner Altazarr (Relaunch) and the Grade 2-placed
stakes winner Rayelle (Relaunch), the dam of Saturday’s Arlington-Washington
Futurity (G3) third-placer Piscitelli (Victory Gallop). This female family is
also responsible for the Grade 1 winners Georgie Boy (Tribal Rule) and Celtic
Melody (Mr. Greeley) as well as the Grade 2-winning Miss Pickums (Afternoon
Deelites).
The winner was bred in Kentucky by Lee Christian, Bill Nicholls and WinStar
Farm.
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