DEL MAR DAILY NOTEBOOK
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2006
by Brian P. Turner
Though Del Mar is winding down for the year, the action on Monday proved that
things are far from over. Not only was there an offering of three stakes races
on the card, but a bit of history was made as well.
The featured event on the day came in the 8TH as a field of eight
two-year-old fillies went to the gate for Monday’s seven-furlong Del Mar
Debutante S. (G1). The Bob Baffert-trained POINT ASHLEY (Point Given) was sent
to the gate as the favorite off her impressive effort last out, where she led
the field from gate to wire for an easy 4 1/4-length victory while posting an
impressive 100 BRIS Speed rating.
When the field left the gate, Mistical Plan (Game Plan) bounded to the front
as she attempted to lead the field from gate to wire. By the time she covered
the first quarter in :21 1/5, she had opened up a 3 1/2-length lead on the
field. Jump On In (Jump Start) was content to lie in second early, 2 1/2 lengths
in front of Point Ashley in third. After covering the half in :44, it became
quickly apparent that Mistical Plan was through. Point Ashley came under a ride
and moved up to take the lead off the turn before widening her lead through the
stretch to cross the finish line 2 1/2 lengths in front.
Untouched Talent (Storm Cat), who was coming off a solid three-length victory
in the Sorrento S. (G3) here on August 5, rallied from off the pace and finished
well late to cross the wire in second, a nose in front of She’s Included
(Include) in third.
Also on Monday, a field of five, including one coupled entry, went to the
post for the I’m Smokin S. for Cal-bred two-year-olds going six furlongs. The
Carla Gaines-trained duo of Street Lights (High Brite) and SPOT THE DIPLOMAT
(Worldly Manner) was sent to the post as the overwhelming favorite. Spot The
Diplomat was coming off of an impressive 1 1/4-length score in the Graduation S.
here on July 26 and Street Lights was coming off a nice maiden score here
earlier in the meet where he posted a very solid 91 BRIS Speed rating. It
appeared that either one of them was capable of having his picture taken.
When the gates sprang open, Spot the Diplomat took the lead with Street
Lights hot on his tail as the pair maintained their positions through opening
fractions of :22 3/5 and :45 4/5. Once they hit the stretch, the pair continued
to the wire just the way they started as Spot The Diplomat continued on to the
finish line for an easy 2 3/4-length victory over his entrymate. It was another
6 1/2 lengths back to Zoning In (Bertrando) in third.
Rounding out the stakes action, a field of six contested the Windy Sands H.
for three-year-olds and up going eight furlongs on the main track. Sinister
Minister (Old Trieste) was sent to the post as the favorite off his amazing
performance in the Blue Grass S. (G1) at Keeneland back in April. The
three-year-old colt broke a step slow at the start of the Windy Sands but was
quickly rushed up to take the lead as he guided the field through opening
fractions of :22 4/5 and :46 while being pressed every step of the way by Keep
On Punching (Silver Deputy). As the field hit the stretch though, Sinister
Minister packed it in while PREACHINATTHEBAR (Silver Charm) rallied from off the
pace and finished gamely to cross the finish line 1 1/4 lengths in front.
Preachinatthebar was coming off a dismal showing the in the Pacific Classic
(G1) where he finished eighth, beaten by 13 lengths, but the gray found the
competition more to his liking here as he tacked on another stakes victory to
his resume.
Longshot Romeo Plus (Arg) (Alpha Plus) finished well late to pick up the
place, 3 1/4 lengths in front of Southern Africa (Cape Town) in third. It was
another 2 3/4 lengths back to Sinister Minister in fourth.
There were five sprints contested on the main track Monday with horses on or
near the pace winning four of them. As for the three dirt routes, two were won
by horses closing from off the pace. In addition, there were two turf routes on
the day, with one being won by a stalker and the other by a runner closing from
off the pace.
Victor Espinoza already had the jockey title all sewn up, but that wasn’t
enough as he decided to carve out a little piece of history for himself today.
He concluded Sunday’s card with a victory and then visited the winner’s circle
in each of the first six races on the card on Monday, giving him seven wins in a
row which tied the record set by the late Bill Shoemaker. After finishing third
in the 7TH race, Espinoza returned to win the 8TH race aboard Point Ashley which
gave him the record all to himself for most wins in one day at Del Mar with
seven. This impressive run gives Espinoza 62 wins for the meet. Martin Garcia
continues to sit out his suspension but remains in second with 35. Corey
Nakatani added one to his total today to move into a tie with Alex Solis for the
third spot. The pair has 30 winners each.
In the trainer standings, Doug O’Neill went winless on the day but continues
to lead the way with 18 winners for the meet. Jeff Mullins had one runner on the
day, but it did not reach the winner’s circle and he remains in second with 16.
Baffert saddled a total of three winners on the day, all in tandem with
Espinoza, to take sole possession of the third spot with 15.
Horses to Watch
1ST – Spot The Diplomat has now reeled off three impressive victories in a
row, two of which have come against stakes company. The two-year-old gelding
will be a threat regardless of where he shows up next.
2ND – SPECIFIC RULE (Tribal Rule) was extremely impressive in his first start
for trainer Mike Mitchell in this state-bred maiden claiming event. The
two-year-old gelding took the lead out of the gate, guiding the field through
opening fractions of :22 and :45 3/5, before opening up in the stretch drive for
an easy five-length victory.
5TH – SWISS SKI (Swiss Yodeler) had a very nice performance in this Cal-bred
maiden special weight event as he stalked the pace early through opening
fractions of :22 2/5 and :46 2/5 before opening up in the stretch drive for an
easy 3 1/2-length victory. The bay could pose a serious threat in his next
start, especially against fellow state-breds.
6TH – MALT MAGIC (Cherokee Run) absolutely dominated the field in this
eight-furlong maiden special weight event. The two-year-old colt took the lead
out of the gate and guided the field through early fractions of :22 3/5 and :46
3/5. On the far turn, the dark bay opened up on the field and eventually hit the
finish line 9 1/2 lengths in front.
NOTE: The dominating victories by both Swiss Ski and Malt Magic are of extra
interest because both of them came up well short of Black Seventeen (Is It True)
in their last start. Malt Magic finished second, beaten by 8 1/4 lengths, while
Swiss Ski finished fifth, beaten by 13 lengths. Not only is this turning out to
be a key race but also may be serving as an indicator that Black Seventeen is
something special.
Outlook for Wednesday, September 6
Wednesday will bring a conclusion to the 2006 Del Mar meet but the Southern
California track will be going out in style as there will be a total of three
stakes races offered on the card. The highlighted event of the day will be the
Del Mar Futurity (G2) for two-year-olds going seven furlongs. A field of seven
is scheduled to go to the gate and features many of the talented young juveniles
we have seen compete over the course of the meet. GREAT HUNTER (Aptitude) will
be looking for his first graded stakes victory after finishing second in each of
his two attempts at that level. The dark bay rallied from off the pace in the
Hollywood Juvenile Championship S. (G3) to miss by 2 3/4 lengths then returned
in the Best Pal S. (G2) with another off the pace effort to miss by three
lengths to the talented Principle Secret (Sea Of Secrets). If he gets the right
pace in front of him, Great Hunter could definitely pick up his first graded
stakes victory here.
PRIME RULER (Orientate) overcame a troubled start in his career debut where
he was forced to steady early which left him 12 lengths off the lead at the
first call of the race. The bay gradually began to make up ground on the field
and closed with a tremendous turn of foot through the stretch to hit the finish
line 2 1/2 lengths in front. This was an extremely impressive effort given the
trouble he encountered and a repeat of that performance would land him in the
winner’s circle here. STORMELLO (Stormy Atlantic) followed up his impressive 3
1/2-length maiden score here on July 29 with a third-place finish in the Best
Pal. If the chestnut continues to move forward, he could definitely have an
impact here.
HORSE GREELEY (Mr. Greeley) had the misfortune of tangling with the
aforementioned Principle Secret in his career debut. The chestnut performed
admirably in that event as he finished second against a very talented group of
two-year-olds. Horse Greeley returned on August 12 to easily break his maiden by
four lengths and he definitely rates a chance here. CAPED FOR FLIGHT (Cape Town)
finished fourth behind Prime Ruler in his debut before coming back to break his
maiden by three-quarters of a length. The dark bay posted solid BRIS Speed
ratings in each effort and could definitely have an impact here.
DIVIDE AND CONQUER (Mr. Greeley) will be looking to rebound off a fifth-place
effort in the Best Pal while LUCKY THIRTEEN (Swiss Yodeler) is coming off a
maiden score against state-breds.
A field of nine is scheduled to go to the gate for the Pirate’s Bounty H. for
three-year-olds and up going six furlongs. Grade 1 winner CAPTAIN SQUIRE (Flying
Chevron) will be looking to add to his stakes resume here. The seven-year-old
gelding is coming off a nice 1 1/2-length score here on July 31 against
allowance/optional claiming company. The bay is the speed of the field and they
will have to catch him to beat him.
AREYOUTALKINTOME (Smokester) finished second to Captain Squire in that
allowance/optional claiming event before coming back for a respectable
third-place showing in the Pat O’Brien Breeders’ Cup H. (G2). The dark bay is in
good form now and could definitely have an impact with his best. Former Southern
California-based jockey Kent Desormeaux will be returning to Del Mar for the
meet’s conclusion and will be reuniting with JET WEST (Western Fame), with whom
he has had some success in the past. Jet West finished third in this year’s
Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1), a half-length in front of Captain Squire. The bay
is coming off a lackluster effort at Pleasanton but definitely rates a chance
with a return to his prior form.
STRAWBERRY LAKE (Arg) (Salt Lake) will be making his first start in North
America after compiling a pretty impressive record in South America. The
chestnut comes in as a bit of an unknown factor and it will be interesting to
see how he performs.
Finally, a field of 12 is set to contest the CERF H. for fillies and mares,
three-years-old and up, going six furlongs. TRUE AND TRUE (Is It True) is coming
off a nice second-place effort in the Rancho Bernardo H. (G3) where she was
beaten by 3 1/4 lengths. This was only the bay’s second start of her career on
the main track and a repeat of that effort definitely makes her a contender
here.
YODELADYTOO (Swiss Yodeler) is a perfect two for two for the meet with her
most recent victory coming against allowance/optional claiming company where she
led from gate to wire for a six-length victory. The chestnut has been in fine
form since moving into the barn of Bill Spawr and definitely rates a solid
chance here. VIKKI’S HONOR (Bartok [Ire]) returned from the layoff last out
ready to roll as she gamely vied for the lead throughout en route to a game neck
victory here against allowance company. If the dark bay moves forward off that
effort it will make her a contender.
VICTORY SPY (Victory Gallop) is coming off a solid 2 3/4-length victory here
on the grass against allowance/optional claiming company. The bay broke her
maiden here on the main track last year and is more than capable of claiming the
victory with her best.
Wednesday’s forecast calls for sunny skies with highs in the mid-70s.
Wednesday’s Best Plays
1ST – SORCERERS SPELL (Royal Academy) will be making the “turf to dirt” move
and taking a drop in class for trainer Michael Machowsky in this maiden claiming
event. The three-year-old gelding attempted to lead a maiden special weight
field from gate to wire on the grass last out only to come up 3 1/4 lengths
short. The gelding’s BRIS Pace ratings indicate that he is the speed of the
field and should be able to dictate things on the lead. Sorcerers Spell tops the
field in BRIS Prime Power and is near the top of the field in BRIS Class rating
while his best BRIS Speed rating earned on the main track is also the best of
this bunch.
8TH – Prime Ruler put in one of the most visually impressive performances of
the meet when breaking his maiden here on August 5. In that effort, the bay
posted the best BRIS Speed rating among this field, even with the trouble he
faced at the start. The bay has come back with three solid works since that race
which includes a clocking of :47 2/5 here on August 31.