MIKE SMITH (Enterprising, winner) – “I’m not sure how he was affected by those gate issues (when two different horses broke through the gate prior to the start). It’s unsettling for everyone in the race. Maybe it had something to do with my horse being farther back than I thought he’d be in the beginning. But by being farther back, he relaxed nicely. Then he came running and I hoped I’d get there. He’s a very talented colt. And I’m certainly happy to start the meet off right.”
COREY NAKATANI (Argyle Cut, second) – “We had a good trip. Good try, too. The other horse (winner Enterprising) was able to overcome the outside post and get us late. He (Argyle Cut) ran good.”
TYLER BAZE (Home School, third) – “He never got a breather today. Then he didn’t have the punch at the end. He’s a nice colt though and he’ll be heard from down the line. Maybe a little more distance would suit him better.”
TOM PROCTOR (Enterprising, winner) -- “It usually depends on the trip and I guess any winning trip is a good trip. He was outside and in the clear. I’ve been running a lot of seconds lately so I wasn’t sure he was going to get there. But it all worked out.”
FRACTIONS: :23.02 :46.14 1:10.28 1:22.17 1:33.94
(Stakes record in the race is 1:33.54, accomplished by Blackdoun in 2004.)
(According to Trakus, the winner ran his final quarter mile in :22.65.)
The stakes win was Mike Smith’s 40th at Del Mar and his second in the Oceanside.
The stakes win was the ninth at Del Mar for trainer Tom Proctor, but his first in the Oceanside. His father, Willard Proctor, won the Oceanside twice, in 1991 with Major Impact and in 1992 with Repriced. Both times for Glen Hill Farm, the owner of Enterprising.