Pulpit Rider (Outside) © Benoit Photo
Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams’ homebred mare Pulpit Rider looped her field and came with a rush to get up in the final jump and capture the 27th edition of the $125,000 Solana Beach Stakes by a nose.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, the 5-year-old mare by the late California sire Lucky Pulpit provided a better outcome to her efforts in the one mile turf race than the one she had to accept last year. She finished second that day but was disqualified back to sixth.
Trainer Mike Puype saddled Pulpit Rider for her sixth win in her 24th start. The $71,250 winner’s share of the purse increased her career earnings to $462,677. The final time for the filly-mare test for California-breds was 1:34.05 and as the longest shot in the field -- she paid $24.80, $8.60 and $3.40.
Finishing second was Ruis Racing’s Sedamar and third was race favorite Mucho Unusual, who races for George Krikorian.
The riding aces for the afternoon were Flavien Prat and Ricardo Gonzalez, each with three wins. Prat assumed the lead in the jockeys’ race with his triple and now has 27 firsts after 15 days of racing. Gonzalez pushed his total to nine wins and is now seventh in the jockey standings.
First post tomorrow for Del Mar is 2 p.m.
JUAN HERNANDEZ (Pulpit Rider, winner) – “She broke a little slow, so I didn’t rush with her. She was nice and relaxed, so I felt OK. I waited until the quarter pole and then I asked her. She gave me a good kick. We had to go wide; we had no choice. But she was running. I looked over right at the wire and I saw we won. Close, but we got it.”
MIKE PUYPE (Pulpit Rider, winner) – “A great ride. She kind of likes to ease out and get in the middle of the track in her races and I was a little worried for awhile about the fractions. But she always runs her best here at Del Mar and she came running. She was much the best last year when she got DQed but she ran a great race today. Hats off to her for digging for it and hats off to Juan (Hernandez) for a great ride. There’s not enough time to run her here again this meet but we’ll show up in November.”
FRACTIONS: :23.01 :45.98 1:10.32 1:22.31 1:34.05
The stakes win was the first of the meet for rider Hernandez and his first in the Solana Beach. He now has four stakes wins at Del Mar.
The stakes win was the first of the meet for trainer Puype but his second (2015, Chati’s On Top) in the Solana Beach. He now has 11 stakes wins at Del Mar.
The winning owners (and breeders) are Mr. & Mrs. Larry D. Williams of Bosie, ID.