Positivity (outside) runs by Good With People © Benoit Photo

Graduation Stakes

DRAYDEN VAN DYKE (Positivity, winner) – “Finally got one to go my way. I was aware of that horse behind me coming away from there (Touchdown Brown, whose jockey, Evin Roman, claimed foul for interference away from the gate), but I gave him enough time to work it out. It might have been a little sloppy on my part, but I didn’t think it was too bad. My colt is a 2-year-old and he’s still learning. We had a nice stalking trip, but he got to jacking around on the turn. Then when we got to running, I knew I'd catch that horse up front (Good With People). Things haven’t been going well at the meet for me so far, but it’ll come back around. I go home and leave the racetrack here. I’m at Del Mar and we’ve got the beach. That and we’re racing. It’s all going to be fine.” 

LUIS MENDEZ (Positivity, winner) – (On sweating out the inquiry) “I know how it goes and I’ve been here before in this position. I was worried. But last year the judges made a call for us and this year they were on our side again. (In the 2019 Graduation, Mendez’s Big Returns was elevated from second to first via disqualification). First win at Del Mar this year takes the weight off the shoulders.”

FRACTIONS:  :22.07  :45.48  :58.33  1:06.68 

The stakes win was the first of the meet for rider Van Dyke , but his second (2018, Tap the Wire) in the Graduation. He now has 31 stakes wins at Del Mar.

The stakes win was the first of the meet for trainer Mendez and his second (2019, Big Returns) in the Graduation. He now has two stakes wins at Del Mar.

The winning owner C T R Stables is the nom du course for Chad Calvert of Centennial, CO.