Poshky, © Benoit Photo

 

Poshky, the fifth favorite to triumph on a formful day of competition Friday at Del Mar, rallied in the stretch under jockey James Graham to win the feature, a nine-furlong contest over the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

 

Always well-placed while saving ground, Poshky was guided into the clear entering the stretch and went on to score by a hard-earned half-length over the fast closing Chiropractor and Baccelo, who were separated by a nose at the wire. King of Jazz, who led until the stretch, held on for fourth, a length farther back.

 

Poshky, sent postward at 5-2 for owners Silver Ranch and Wachtel and trainer Peter Miller, ran the distance in 1:47.93 and returned $7, $4.20 and $3.40 after scoring his fifth win in 21 career efforts. The winner is five-year-old son of Vronsky bred in California.

 

Runner-up Chiropractor paid $4.40 and $3.80, while Baccelo returned $6.20 to show.

 

Apprentice jockey David Lopez, new at Del Mar from Golden Gate Fields in northern California, debuted in winning fashion at the seaside course as he guided 1-2 favored Lucky Reality to victory in the sixth race. Lopez, 26 years old, was leading rider at Golden Gate prior to his departure.

 

Jockey Kent Desormeaux won two races on the card, the third with A New Trend at $10.40 and the eighth and final with longshot Wheatfield at $35.60. Trainer Marty Jones also had a double, Tiz a Classy Lass at $7.60 in the fifth and the aforementioned Wheatfield in the eighth.

 

With favorites dominating the eight-race program, there were four perfect tickets in the Pick Six and each was worth $51,787. With a carryover of $39,886 from Thursday and $288,868 in new money, the total Pick Six pool Friday was $328,754.

 

Friday’s attendance was 3,052.