Lord Prancealot © Benoit Photo
The bay colt Lord Prancealot was just too quick for seven California-bred rivals in the five and one-half furlong Graduation Stakes at Del Mar Friday as he hung on late under old pro Kent Desormeaux to capture the 72nd running of the $126,000 dash.
The Hall of Fame rider, who was winning his third race on the afternoon, had his gelded son of Sir Prancealot away quickly and in front all the way through fast splits of :21.87 and :45.12. His rivals were closing in stoutly inside the sixteenth pole, but Desormeaux had just enough in the tank to get home by a head in a final time of 1:04.59.
The winner is owned by Edward Brown and Jeff Ganje. Ganje is also the breeder.
Lovingier, London or Zondo’s Last Call London finished second, while Tom Halasz’s Mici’s Express was another three-quarters of a length back in third.
Lord Prancealot earned a first-place prize of $71,250 to increase his earnings to $120,450. He’d won his only other outing, a straight maiden affair against Cal-breds at Del Mar on July 29. Desormeaux was aboard that day, too.
Desormeaux was capturing his 89 stakes victory at Del Mar in the Graduation, ninth-most of all riders. It was Bonde’s 17th local stakes tally.
Racing resumes at Del Mar Saturday with a first post of 2 p.m. There will be a guaranteed $1-million Pick Six pool that day to anyone who manages to take down the exotic bet as a single-ticket winner.
KENT DESORMEAUX (Lord Prancealot, winner) – “He’s so quick. He surprised me the other day (his winning debut at Del Mar on July 29) just how quick he is. I wasn’t throwing any crosses at him today (turning for home); I was just holding him up. Can he run farther? I don’t know. I know he’s quick. I don’t know about the distance.”
JEFF BONDE (Lord Prancealot, winner) – “I know there was a lot of speed on paper in the race but he’s excellent from the gate, so when I saw the break I thought we were in a good position to have a chance. (At the end) I was hoping the wire was coming real quick.”
FRACTIONS: :21.87 :45.12 :57.65 1:04.59
The stakes win was the second of the meet for rider Desormeaux, the first for trainer Bonde.
This was Desormeaux’s second victory in the Graduation (Riva Ranger, 1995). He now has 89 stakes wins at Del Mar, ninth most all time among riders.
The stakes win was the first in the Graduation for trainer Bonde, who now has 17 stakes wins at Del Mar.
The winning owners are Edward Brown and Jeff Ganje. The latter is also the breeder of the winner.