9/30/11
Last updated: 9/29/11 8:19 PM
Acclamation meets Champ Pegasus in Hirsch Turf;
Weemissfrankie heads Oak Leaf
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Champ Pegasus’ (outside) last win came in the February 19 San Luis Obispo
(Benoit Photos) |
Acclamation has established himself as a 2011 Horse of the Year contender. An
easy winner of the Jim Murray, Charles Whittingham Memorial and Eddie Read, the
latter two Grade 1 events, the turf star switched to Polytrack in the Pacific
Classic last out and courageously drove to head score in the centerpiece event
of the Del Mar meet. The front runner is expected to move back to the turf
Sunday, putting his four-race win streak on the line in the $150,000
Clement L.
Hirsch Turf Championship at Santa Anita, and needs to keep winning to remain in
the Horse of the Year discussion.
Champ Pegasus, the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Turf runner-up, will be seeking his
second straight victory in this event and is the main rival in the eight-horse field.
Trained by Donald Warren, Acclamation has carved his reputation on the turf,
winning five graded events on the sod over the past two seasons, but his Pacific
Classic success put the Breeders’ Cup Classic into the frame for the
five-year-old, who cross-entered to Saturday’s Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes on dirt.
His connections are leaning toward the Hirsch Turf as a prep for a possible
Classic bid, and the Grade 2 event will be held over 1 1/4 grassy miles.
Patrick Valenzuela will retain the mount.
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Champ Pegasus is a legitimate threat. After winning the Grade 2 San Luis
Obispo in his second start this year, the five-year-old shipped to Dubai in late
March, recording a disappointing 12th in the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic,
and he didn’t race again until late August. Trainer Richard Mandella brought his
charge back in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile, a distance too short for the
long-distance runner, and Champ Pegasus rallied well in the stretch, registering
a 105 BRIS Late Pace rating while finishing two lengths back of the winner in
fifth. Further improvement can be expected off the tightener.
Garrett Gomez will pick up the assignment on the likely second favorite.
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Weemissfrankie seeks win
number three in the Oak Leaf
(Benoit Photos) |
Among the other six challengers, Imponente Purse (Brz) probably offers the
most appeal. The five-year-old gelding captured the Grade 3 Sunset two starts
back and exits a respectable neck third in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap, but
he’ll be facing a serious class check against the likes of Acclamation and Champ
Pegasus. Stakes winner Make Music for Me faded to fourth when trying 1 3/8 miles
in the Del Mar Handicap last out and is suspect at this distance. Dreamy Kid
captured the Grade 2 Swaps on Polytrack this summer, defeating subsequent
Haskell Invitational winner Coil, but the three-year-old colt will be facing
older rivals for the first time off a disappointing sixth in the Grade 2 Del Mar
Derby. Buenos Dias (Ire) was Grade 1-placed last year, but he’s failed to hit
the board in five attempts this season. Ashtar (Chi) and Dynamic Host are likely
overmatched.
The Grade 1
Oak Leaf, a 1 1/16-mile test for the two-year-old fillies, is
also featured on Sunday’s card at Santa Anita and the undefeated Weemissfrankie
is the top draw in the $250,000 prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on
November 4 at Churchill Downs.
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Two-for-two in her career, Weemissfrankie won her career debut on Del Mar’s
Polytrack on July 20, offering a dramatic late rally to score by a half-length,
and rolled to a convincing 1 1/4-length victory in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante
on September 3. If she carries her stellar form forward on dirt, the Peter
Eurton pupil will make a serious push toward favoritism in the Juvenile Fillies.
Regular rider Rafael Bejarano has the call.
Debutante runner-up Self Preservation will also return for the Oak Leaf along
with Wild Truffles (fourth in the Debutante), Killer Graces (fifth), Silent Saga
(sixth) and Dreamcaster (seventh). Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will send
out the unbeaten Candrea, who exits an easy win in the Phil D. Shepherd at
Fairplex.
Last-out maiden winners Charm the Maker and Regal Betty, and Lousiana invader
My Gi Gi round out the field.
