DEL MAR DAILY NOTEBOOK
SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 2005
by Brian P. Turner
A field of nine three-year-old fillies went to the post for Saturday’s
featured Del Mar Oaks (G1). Contested at 1 1/16 miles over the Jimmy Durante
Turf Course, the Oaks assembled together a competitive group of sophomore misses,
almost any of whom were capable of picking up their first Grade 1 victory.
Dancing Edie (Moscow Ballet) had been the also-eligible in the race but drew
in and was determined to make the most of her opportunity once the gates
sprang open, bounding to the lead. The bay immediately opened up three
lengths on the field as she guided them through early fractions of :22 4/5 and
:46 4/5.
Once the field hit the stretch, Dancing Edie refused to back off and dug in
gamely. SINGHALESE (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]) came off the turn four wide with a
tremendous move and eventually ran down the pacesetter. Favorite Three Degrees
(Ire) (Singspiel [Ire]) came through on the rail to challenge but could not run
down Singhalese, who hit the wire a half-length in front. Three Degrees picked up
the place, 1 1/4 lengths in front of a very game Dancing Edie in third.
Singhalese has become quite the competitor since moving to North America and
into the barn of James Cassidy. The chestnut’s greatest accomplishment prior to
this came in the American Oaks (G1) where she put in a very respectable
performance to finish third. With a couple of months of great turf racing still
in front of us, it will be interesting to see where the connections send her
next but, wherever it is, she will undoubtedly be a solid threat.
There were five sprints contested on the main track Saturday, all which were
won by horses on or near the lead. As for the lone route on the day, it was won
by a runner who was about three lengths off the early pace. In addition to the
feature, there were two turf routes contested on the day. One of these was won
by a front runner while in the other event a horse coming from off the pace
crossed the wire in front.
Victor Espinoza picked up two wins on the day to widen his lead in the jockey
standings. He now has 34 for the meet. Garrett Gomez picked up one win on the
day and has a solid lock on the second spot with 31 winners thus far. Patrick
Valenzuela was suffering out the last day of his suspension but was allowed to
ride in the Oaks where his mount, Rich in Spirit (Repriced), finished fifth. Valenzuela
remains in third with 25 winners for the meet.
As for the trainers, Jeff Mullins picked up a win on the day to move back
into a tie with Bob Baffert for the top spot in the trainer standings. The pair
has 14 winners each. Doug O’Neill picked up two wins today to regain sole
possession of the third spot with 12 winners thus far.
Horses to Watch
2ND – AT A BOY RUSS (Nineeleven) vied for the lead in this Cal-bred maiden
special event through early fractions of :22 1/5 and :45 3/5. The bay dug in
gamely through the stretch drive, refusing to give in, and hit the wire a half-length in front. All in all, it was a very game effort for a two-year-old making
his first start.
4TH – SONGWRITER (Unbridled’s Song) was content to lay near the back of the
pack early in this six furlong maiden special event before unleashing an
explosive turn of foot through the lane to come up a half-length short. The
two-year-old filly is a definite threat next out and could prove to be a nice
one once she stretches out past a sprint.
Tomorrow’s Outlook – Sunday, August 21
Sunday’s card brings the highlighted stakes race of the meet, the $1 million
Pacific Classic S. (G1). A field of 11, including one mare, has entered for the
historic 10 furlong affair which will be headed by LAVA MAN (Slew City Slew).
The four-year-old dark bay will be looking to duplicate his performance in the
Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) where he absolutely demolished the field by 8 3/4
lengths.
There are a whole slew of contenders standing in his way though which
includes PERFECT DRIFT (Dynaformer), last year’s runner-up in the Classic, SURF
CAT (Sir Cat), a five-length winner of the Swaps Breeders’ Cup S. (G2) at
Hollywood, and CHOCTAW NATION (Louis Quatorze), the recent winner of the San
Diego H. (G2) right here at Del Mar.
Also on Sunday, a field of nine, including one coupled entry, is scheduled to
contest the Pat O’Brien Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) for three-year-olds and upward going seven
furlongs. UNFURL THE FLAG (Bertrando), recent winner of the Triple Bend
H. (G1), heads the field but he will have to deal with MCCANN’S
MOJAVE (Memo [Chi]), the second-place finisher in the Triple Bend, as well as
Grade 2 winner IMPERIALISM (Langfuhr), who will be returning to sprint
competition for the first time since February of 2004.
Tomorrow’s 10-race card, which includes a $1 million guaranteed Pick Six,
will have an early post time of 1:00 p.m. (PDT).
It looks like it will be another perfect day in Southern California as the
forecast calls for sunny skies and highs in the upper 70s.
Sunday’s Best Plays
2ND – LIFESTYLE (Indian Charlie) appears to be rounding into form for a solid
performance. The bay began his career on fire, winning his first two career
starts by a combined 23 1/4 lengths, but has not been to the winner’s circle
since. That could change today as the five-year-old horse will be making his
third start off the layoff and appears to be sitting on a top effort. Lifestyle
began his career wearing the “peeps” but they were removed after his third
start. Trainer Wesley Ward has elected to put the blinkers back on Sunday, a
maneuver he scores with 36 percent of the time. Lifestyle’s BRIS Speed ratings
are up with the best of the field and his BRIS Pace Ratings indicate that he
should be able to get the lead and maintain his position to the finish line.
3RD – BOB AND JOHN (Seeking The Gold) will be making his career debut for the
always dangerous Baffert. The two-year-old colt has been working forwardly and
steadily since the end of June and has posted bullets in three of his last five
works. Patrick Valenzuela has been enlisted for the ride and he has combined
with Baffert for a 33 percent win rate over the last 60 days.