DEL MAR DAILY NOTEBOOK
SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2006
by Brian P. Turner
Sunday’s featured event was the Del Mar H. (G2) for three-year-olds and up
going 11 furlongs over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. A field of 10 went to the
gate, headed by T. H. APPROVAL (With Approval), who was sent off by the betting
public as the heavy even-money favorite. The gray was coming off a victory
last out in the Sunset Breeders’ Cup H. (G2), where he rallied from 12 lengths
off the pace for a solid 1 1/2-length score. He has compiled a record of 5-2-2-0
this year, all against graded stakes company, with the lone true blemish coming
in the Charles Whittingham Memorial H. (G1), where he finished seventh, 5 3/4
lengths behind winner Lava Man (Slew City Slew).
When the gates sprang open, Cheroot (Smokester) bounded out of the gate and
onto the lead, where he had his own way on the front guiding the field through
fractions of :23 4/5, :47 1/5, and 1:11 4/5. T. H. Approval was content to lay
well off the pace early but began to make up ground as the field approached the
final turn. Once they hit the stretch, the gray continued on gamely and overcame
the somewhat tepid early fractions to take the lead and cross the finish line 1
1/2 lengths in front.
Artiste Royal (Ire) (Danehill) finished well through the stretch as well to
pick up the place, a nose in front of a fast closing Super Strut (Lil Tyler) in
third.
There were five sprints contested on the day with horses on or near the pace
winning three of them, while the lone dirt route was won by a horse closing from off
the pace. In addition to the Del Mar H., there were two other turf routes,
one of which was won by a runner closely stalking the pace and the other by a
closer.
Victor Espinoza added one to his total today and continues to lead the way in
the jockey standings with 47 for the meet. Martin Garcia added one to his total
as well and remains in second with 35. Alex Solis guided home T. H. Approval in
the feature to move into a tie for the third spot with Corey Nakatani. The two
have 26 winners each.
As for the trainers, Doug O’Neill went winless but still leads the way in the
trainer standings with 16 for the meet. Jeff Mullins added one to his total and
remains in second with 14. John Sadler had no runners on the day but remains in
third with 11.
Horses to Watch
2ND – K C NITE MAYR (Old Topper) reeled off his second victory during the Del
Mar meet in this nine-furlong allowance/optional claiming event on the grass.
The bay stalked the early pace through soft fractions of :24 2/5 and :49
1/5 before taking over in the stretch drive and holding off all challengers late
to hit the finish line 1 1/4 lengths in front. The four-year-old gelding is in
good form now and could loom a threat in his next start as well.
4TH – GARDEN OF STARS (Grand Slam) had a nice career debut for trainer
Mullins, who is not particularly well known for cranking up his first-time
starters. The two-year-old filly pressed the pace early through an opening
quarter that went in :21 3/5 before taking over coming off the turn and pulling
clear during the stretch drive to hit the finish line 4 1/4 lengths in front,
stopping the clock for the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04 3/5.
Tomorrow’s Outlook – Monday, August 28
A field of 10, including one coupled entry, is scheduled to go to the gate
for Monday’s 7TH race, an allowance event for three-year-olds and up going eight
furlongs on the lawn. COURTNALL (Cherokee Run) will be looking to finally pick
up his second career victory after missing by only a nose at this level last
out. The dark bay appears to be in a good spot to do so, as he has shown the
ability to stalk the pace in the past. That will definitely suit him well here
as there really isn’t an overabundance of speed in this race.
BOBOMAN (Kingmambo) finished only two lengths behind Courtnall last out as he
tried to close from well off the pace. The five-year-old horse showed marked
improvement in his second start in North America that day and could claim the
victory here if he continues to move forward. TENASH (Brz) (Special Nash [Ire])
will be making his first start for trainer Mullins after being claimed out of
his last race, where he rallied from off the pace for a 1 1/4-length victory.
The chestnut has put in his best efforts while going longer but he could
definitely have an impact here.
Those looking for a price may consider MORE DAYLIGHT (Mt. Livermore) due to
the lack of pace in this race. The dark bay has shown the ability to run on the
lead in the past and has a chance to steal this one if he reverts to his
front-running tactics.
Monday’s forecast calls for mostly sunny skies with highs in the upper 70s.
Monday’s Best Plays
1ST – BID OF GENIUS (Beau Genius) is another who will be making her first
start for trainer Mullins after being claimed out of her last race, in which
she earned the victory by stalking the pace early and finishing well through the
stretch for a 1 3/4-length score. The BRIS Speed rating earned by the
three-year-old filly in that event makes her competitive with the best of these
and she is also near the top of the field in both BRIS Prime Power and BRIS
Class rating. Mullins wins with 35 percent of his starters in the “1st After
Claim” trainer category and 31 percent of his starts in the “Up One Class”
category. Though she will be making a class jump here, Bid of Genius appears to
have a solid chance.
7TH – Courtnall is in a good spot to pick up his second victory with this
allowance event. The BRIS Speed rating he earned most recently is the
best among this field, plus he has an advantage of seven points in the BRIS
Prime Power category. Nakatani has been very effective on the Del Mar turf this
meet, only adding to the list of things to like about Courtnall.