DEL MAR NOTEBOOK
SEPTEMBER 3, 2009
by John Mucciolo
A pair of graded events on the grass headlined the week at Del Mar.
Del Mar Mile H. (G2): Silver Springs Stud Farm’s FERNELEY (Ire) (Ishiguru) finally broke through
with a signature score with a comfortable, 1 1/2-length victory in this turf
feature for Ben Cecil. The five-year-old bay completed one mile on the firm turf
in 1:33 with Joel Rosario aboard.
Del Mar H. (G2): R.D. Hubbard’s homebred SPRING HOUSE (Chester House) rallied boldly under Alex
Solis to get up by a nose as the 120-pound highweight for Julio Canani. The
talented gelding finished off 1 3/8 miles on the firm turf in 2:12 3/5.
Track Stats
From a total of 46 races held over the coastal racetrack during the four-day
week, favorites won at a 28 percent clip and the top two betting choices
combined for 61 percent of the wins. From 32 frays contested on the Polytrack, five animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (16 percent), while one of the 14
grassy tussles went all the way on the lead (7 percent).
The turf course continues to favor late runners in a big way and we’d urge
handicappers to look for closers on the weeds. The lone wire-to-wire grass
winner last week had a huge late edge and was very close to being passed under
the wire.
This marked the second consecutive week where speed on the main strip was not
particularly good.
Outside posts struggled for the first three days of the week, bagging just
four of the 26 races. Saturday and Sunday were different, however, as nine of
the first-place finishers broke from posts seven and wider from 20 events (45
percent).
Meet Totals
| RACES: | 277 | |
| POLYTRACK: | 206 | |
| TURF: | 71 | |
| FAVORITES: | 87 (31 percent) | |
| 2ND CHOICES: | 63 (23 percent) | |
| TURF WIRE: | 7 (10 percent) | |
| POLY WIRE: | 46 (22 percent) |
Post Positions (wins):
| RAIL: | 32 | |
| 1-3: | 95 | |
| 4-6: | 101 | |
| 7-out: | 81 |
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (8/26)
2ND — Euro invader RIVIERA COCKTAIL (Giant’s Causeway) put in a fine showing
in his U.S. debut for Neil Drysdale, powering home to win at a nice price. The
bay colt could be a good one if this was any indication.
3RD — GENERAL CONSENSUS (Giant’s Causeway) wrapped up a double for her sire
with a fairly easy win under Solis. The four-year-old filly didn’t beat
much in here so we won’t get too excited about her win, but we did like her
closing three-sixteenths in a swift :28 3/5!
Thursday (8/27)
5TH — FORBIDDEN PARADISE (Ire) (Chineur) was resilient in running down
the favorite in here in her U.S. debut for David Hofmans. The juvenile filly
sped home fast for Brice Blanc and could be a major player in a questionable
division as the season unfolds.
6TH — LEMON SUPREME (Lemon Drop Kid) responded to a brief freshening with a
fine second in here for Hofmans, falling just a neck
short on the wire. The four-year-old is a pretty solid one-turn runner who
should be watched closely in her return.
7TH — MINUTE LIMIT (Ire) (Pivotal) put in a fine closing run
in her U.S. debut back in May for John Sadler, and the sophomore miss looked
even better here with a strong rally late beneath Rosario. She appears to
be of stakes quality and should be in a black-type event very soon.
Saturday (8/29)
3RD — PLAY NINE (Chapel Royal) was sent off at a big price in here after a
poor showing over this oval a few weeks prior but rebounded in a big way for the
red-hot Sadler, wearing down the front runner to post a one-length win. The
hard-ridden filly is a hard knocker who is competitive from six furlongs to at
least as far as this one mile.
6TH — MONA DE MOMMA (Speightstown) was easily best of this bunch
for Sadler, effortlessly gaining the lead and powering clear to win by 2 1/2
lengths under Rafael Bejarano. The three-year-old filly is improving rapidly and
could be a big player in graded stakes sprints by the end of the year.
7TH — The debuting DAVE IN DIXIE (Dixie Union) pulled away like a
good thing to give Sadler yet another impressive juvenile at this meeting. The
two-year-old colt got six panels in a useful 1:10 2/5 to humble a decent field.
Sunday (8/30)
1ST — SOFTLY SINGING (Holy Bull) was an excellent second in her prior start
over this oval and returned with a smashing score for Jerry Hollendorfer,
rolling home to a facile 4 1/4-length win beneath Rosario. The two-year-old filly
went in :23 4/5 for her final quarter-mile and looks the part up to this point.
4TH — Previous Watch runner SPURRIER (Dixieland Band) had no
chance with the winner but ran another good race for Bob Baffert, a continuing trend
for the consistent four-year-old. As we said previously, we’ll be using this one
in the gimmicks every time out.
8TH — TEMPLE CITY (Dynaformer) took a big lead in midstretch and
finished a superb third in his graded turf debut for Carla Gaines, signaling that his
future might be on the lawn. The lightly raced four-year-old will be formidable
next out if properly spotted.
A Look Ahead
The $1 million Pacific Classic S. (G1), the centerpiece of the Del Mar meet,
will take place on Sunday. Also on Sunday, the $300,000 Pat O’Brien S. (G1) for
sprinters on the main track and the $350,000 Del Mar Derby (G2) for
three-year-old turf performers will take place.
Saturday’s feature is the $300,000 Darley Debutante S. (G1) for juvenile
fillies, while the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity (G1) will go off on Monday.