Bulletproof One © Benoit Photo
Making her debut for new owners, odds-on favored Bulletproof One provided a quick return on their investment as she cruised to an impressive triumph in the featured $100,000 C.T.B.A. Stakes for California-bred two-year-old fillies Wednesday.
Also noteworthy Wednesday was the performance of the stable trained by Doug O’Neill, which sent out five winners on the seven-race program, matching the Del Mar record for most winners in a day that the O’Neill barn set July 29, 2015.
In the C.T.B.A. Stakes, Bulletproof One, piloted by Norberto Arroyo, Jr., quickly dashed to the front after the break, shook off longshot Unchain Her Heart turning into the stretch and cruised to the wire six and one-quarter lengths on top in 1:04.70 for the five and one-half furlongs.
Bulletproof One, a daughter of Idiot Proof, was purchased by Gary Barber, Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbreds and Adam Wachtel after a second consecutive daylight victory, taking the July 6 Everett Nevin Stakes at Pleasanton by nine and one-quarter lengths after debuting with an eight-length win at Golden Gate Fields in May. Peter Miller trains the filly.
Unchain Her Heart held on for second, a half-length in front of Wise Rachel, with Cholula Lips another half-length back in fourth in the field of eight fillies.
Bulletproof One earned $57,000 for her third win, increasing her bankroll to $137,400. She returned $3, $2.80 and $2.60. Unchain Her Heart paid $8.20 and $4.40, while Wise Rachel returned $7.40 to show.
O’Neill, five-time leading trainer at Del Mar, began the afternoon with a $49.20 upset by So Gucci in the first, followed with Oil Can Knight at $24.60 in the third, Vegan at $15.80 in the fourth and Convince at $15.40 in the fifth. Acai was eighth and last in the C.T.B.A. Stakes, but Ocean Fury, $6.20, climaxed the afternoon by winning the seventh-race nightcap. None of O’Neill’s winners was favored, although Ocean Fury was a closed second choice.
NORBERTO ARROYO, JR. (Bulletproof One, winner) – “I followed the instructions, break and go. We’re not going to change her style, she won on the lead twice already. It’s all on the break and we had a good break. It feels very good to win a stake here again, especially for Peter Miller. That’s my man.
EDWIN MALDONADO (Unchain Her Heart, second) – “My trip was great. I figured we’d go pressure the No. 2 horse (Bulletproof One). Nobody else went, so I figured it was my job to go. We couldn’t beat her, she was better today, but we ran a good second.”
JOE TALAMO (Wise Rachel, third) – “A very nice trip. I was a little bit farther back than I wanted to be, but I was very impressed with the way she ran. For only a second time starter, she’s a very nice filly.”
PETER MILLER (Bulletproof One, winner) – “It was a no-brainer with this being a Cal-Bred race. We’ve only had her for a few weeks, took it easy with her and just galloped into the race. She came to me in great shape, Ellen (Jackson) did a great job with her and I’m just thankful for the owners that bought this filly and gave her to me. I’m just happy to be having a great meet with all that I’ve got. Felt like we had good quality, not the quantity like from years past. I’ll take quality over quantity any day of the week.”
Fractions: :21.64, :45.22, :57.80, 1:04.70
The stakes win was the first of the meet and first in the CTBA for rider Norberto Arroyo, Jr. He now has eight stakes wins at Del Mar.
The stakes win was the second of the meet and first in the CTBA for trainer Peter Miller. He now has 26 stakes wins.
The winning owners Gary Barber of Los Angeles, Aron Wellman of Del Mar and Adam Wachter of Briancliff Manor, New York.