Mackinnon © Benoit Photo

JUAN HERNANDEZ (Mackinnon, winner) – “Doug just basically told me to ride him with confidence. We were doing OK until we got to the far turn and I felt him get a little lazy on me. So when we went for home and he changed leads, I hit him left-handed with the stick on time and he jumped back into it. From there we just went on with it. He’s a nice horse and the way he finished out today, I think he’ll like to run on.” 

O’NEILL (Mackinnon, winner) “He broke his maiden (here July 31) in a manner that we were hoping this day would come but you never know. So much credit to the owners being so patient and Juan (Hernandez) being so patient with this colt. I was a little bit concerned as the race unfolded. I knew that (Optimising) was the X-factor. I knew he was in from Europe and had been working well and had great connections and was in a great spot. But when Juan called on MacKinnon and he responded I started smiling. If he stays injury free the ($1 Million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on November 5) is the goal.”

FRACTIONS:  :23.13  :46.79  1:11.67  1:23.88  1:36.24

The stakes win was the fourth of the meet for rider Hernandez, but his first in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf. He now has 11 stakes wins at Del Mar.

The stakes win was the first of the meet for trainer O’Neill and his first in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf. He now has 40 stakes wins at Del Mar.

The winning owners ERJ Racing (professional hockey player Erik Johnson of Denver, CO) and Dave Kenney.