DEL MAR DAILY NOTEBOOK
FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2005
by Brian P. Turner
A field of nine went to the post for Friday’s featured Real Good Deal S. for
three-year-old state-breds going seven furlongs on the main track. THOR’S ECHO
(Swiss Yodeler) was sent to the gate as the favorite by the betting public and
rewarded his backers, battling for the lead with Scottsbluff (Siberian Summer)
through early fractions of :22 1/5 and :44 4/5 before pulling clear in the
stretch drive to hit the finish 2 1/2 lengths in front.
Thor’s Echo had not won a race since April when he captured the $500,000 Win
Star Derby at Sunland Park but, in all fairness, he has been facing open company
virtually the entire time. The return to Cal bred-company and a sprint distance
appears to be exactly what he needed to get him back into the winner’s circle.
Though he was not able to stay with the winner, Scottsbluff did not surrender
the place and crossed the wire in second, two lengths clear of a fast closing
Ninety Fine (Event of the Year) in third.
All three of our leaders in the jockey standings went winless on the day so
Patrick Valenzuela still holds the lead with 25 wins for the meet. Garrett Gomez
is in second with 22 followed by Victor Espinoza with 19.
Jeff Mullins remains on top in the trainer standings with 11 winners for the
meet. Doug O’Neill picked up a win with Thor’s Echo in the feature to give him
sole possession of the second spot with 10. Bob Baffert is in third having
saddled nine winners thus far.
There were five sprints contested on the main track Friday and horses on or
near the pace won all of them but the lone route was won by a runner coming from
off the pace. As for the turf, both were won by horses on or near the lead.
Horses to Watch
4TH – STRATAGEM (Tactical Advantage) rallied from well off the pace in this
claiming turf event and closed with a blazing turn of foot in the stretch drive
to miss by a nose at the wire. The chestnut has yet to get a win on the grass in
five starts but he probably won’t be denied much longer.
5TH – AMBITIOUS ONE (Lucayan Prince) vied for the lead with the Baffert
trained G T Forty (Maria’s Mon) through early fractions of :22 1/5 and :44 4/5
in this maiden claiming event. Once he put away his rival, Ambitious One was
then taken on by Estate Collection (Souvenir Copy) who he battled through the
stretch, only to come up a half-length short at the wire. The bay put in a game
performance for a runner making his first start in over a year and could be a
force to contend with in his next start.
Tomorrow’s Outlook – Saturday, August 13
Saturday’s feature is the La Jolla H. (G2) for three-year-olds going 1 1/16
miles over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. A field of seven is scheduled to go to
the gate, including the undefeated EL ROBLAR (War Chant) who is attempting to
run his record to a perfect four for four and take the next step toward the Del
Mar Derby (G2) on September 5. The dark bay is coming off a victory in the
second division of the Oceanside S. on opening day and a couple in this field
have returned looking to avenge their narrow defeat in that event.
IN EXCELSIS (Fusaichi Pegasus) and JULIESUGARDADDY (Unusual Heat) finished
second and third in the Oceanside, respectively, and are more than capable of
turning the tables on El Roblar as there was less than a length separating the
three of them when they hit the wire.
WILLOW O WISP (Misnomer) is another in the field with interesting
possibilities as he is coming off of a two length victory in the Cinema
Breeders’ Cup H. (G3) at Hollywood. The bay has put in a couple of solid works
over the Del Mar lawn and should make things interesting for the Oceanside trio.
Saturday’s forecast calls for areas of dense fog in the morning with mostly
sunny skies in the afternoon and highs in the low to mid 70s.
Saturday’s Best Plays
7TH – ONE UNION (Dixie Union) could offer a bit of value in this maiden
special event for those looking for an alternative to the short prices of the
Bob Baffert trained two-year-olds. The dark bay has been burning up the Del Mar
strip in the mornings, including a bullet work of :45 2/5 from the gate on
August 3 before returning on August 9 with a clocking of :47 4/5. Trainer
Richard Mandella is a respectable 12 percent in the “1st Time Starter” category
which has yielded a very nice + $0.96 R.O.I. Mandella has enlisted the services
of Victor Espinoza, one of Baffert’s “go to” guys, for the mount, only adding to
the positives.
10TH – SWEET DEE’S (Thunder Gulch) should appreciate the stretch out in this
allowance turf event. The bay is coming off of a fourth-place finish, beaten by
2 1/4 lengths, at 5 1/2 furlongs and has the appearance of one that would
appreciate more ground. The pedigree backs this up as well as Thunder Gulch’s
progeny have an average win distance of 7.8 furlongs. The dam is by Sovereign
Dancer (Northern Dancer) and the average win distance of his progeny is 7.3
furlongs. Sweet Dee’s BRIS Speed Ratings are right up there with the best in the
field and her BRIS Pace Ratings indicate that jockey David Flores should have
some versatility as to where he places her early. There should be others in this
field taking money and Sweet Dee’s has as good a shot as any at what should be a
very nice price.