Beach View © Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
DAY 24
BEACH VIEW SCRATCHED FROM CLASSIC WITH MINOR INJURY
Leonard Powell stooped low beneath the stall web and pointed to a small cut just above the hoof on the right front foot of his TVG Pacific Classic entrant Beach View early Saturday morning.
“He grabbed it (nicked himself) in the stall, I think back in the corner,” Powell said. “It’s sore, so we’re going to have to scratch, unfortunately. It happened a couple of days ago and I was hoping it was going to get better. It got better, but not good enough.
“It’s OK. He’ll come back stronger. It’s a very small injury, but the timing is very bad.”
Beach View, a 4 ¾-length winner of the Cougar II Handicap on July 25, was to be the first starter for Powell and owner Levy Racing in Del Mar’s $1 million signature event. The scratch also precluded a 10th Pacific Classic mount for six-time Del Mar summer meet riding champion Rafael Bejarano.
The scratch reduced the field to seven.
PLAYING THE ‘WHAT IF’ GAME FOR THE TVG PACIFIC CLASSIC
We read through the press kit for the 28th running of the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic and skimmed the record book (to save you time and bother – no thanks necessary) and came up with the following tidbits in post position order:
If The Lieutenant wins – It would make a first-try winner out of trainer Mike McCarthy, jockey Drayden Van Dyke and owners Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren…The Lieutenant would become the 18th Kentucky-bred, the 10th of bay color and the 12th five-year-old to win the Classic.
If Dr. Dorr wins – With six wins, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert would tie the late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel for most Classic triumphs … Dr. Dorr would become the fifth gelding to win, the first since Shared Belief in 2014 … Would be a first Classic win for Joe Talamo in his seventh mount … Jill Baffert would become the first solely-listed female owner to win a Classic.
If Prime Attraction wins – It would be a second Pacific Classic victory for jockey Kent Desormeaux, coming 26 years after Missionary Ridge in 1992. Patrick Valenzuela currently holds the record for longest interval between wins at 20 – from Best Pal in the 1991 inaugural to Acclamation in 2011 … Like The Lieutenant, Prime Attraction would be the 18th Kentucky-bred, 10th bay and 12th five-year-old to win.
If Roman Rosso wins – Would tie Bob Baffert with Bobby Frankel for most Pacific Classic wins (see Dr. Dorr) … Roman Rosso would be the third Argentine-bred to win, joining Candy Ride (2003) and Gentlemen (1997) … It would be the first Pacific Classic win in the fourth Pacific Classic mount for meet-leading rider Flavien Prat.
If Accelerate wins – It would end years of disappointment for trainer John Sadler, who comes in 0-for-11 in Classics, and owner Hronis Racing (0-for-4) … Would be a second “Invader from the East” victory for jockey Joel Rosario, who shipped in to win on Dullahan in 2012 but was 0-for-5 in years when he was Del Mar-based and atop the rider standings, and is 0-for-1 since Dullahan … Accelerate would be the 11th chestnut to win, maintaining its status as the winningest of Classic colors … Accelerate would be the third to sweep the “Big Three” events in California for older horses – the Santa Anita Handicap, Gold Cup and Pacific Classic – in a single year, joining Lava Man (2006) and Game On Dude (2013).
If Pavel Wins – It would be the second Pacific Classic victory for trainer Doug O’Neill, following Lava Man in 2006 and first in two mounts for the O’Neill stables main rider, Mario Gutierrez .. It would be the first victory from five starters for owner J. Paul Reddam … Pavel would become only the second gray/roan winner, joining Free House in 1998.
If Two Thirty Five Wins – It would be an initial victory, with his third starter, for trainer Richard Baltas, a first-mount score for 19-year-old Venezuelan-born jockey Franklin Ceballos and a first-starter win for Slam Dunk Racing and partners … Two Thirty Five would become the fifth gelding to win, the first since Shared Belief in 2014 and the ninth 4-year-old.
EXPERTS FIND IT HARD TO LOOK PAST ACCELERATE; BUT A FEW DO
A sampling of TVG Pacific Classic selections from an eclectic group of “experts” randomly chosen based on availability and willingness to participate. (In a similar poll in 2017, eight out of 13 correctly predicted Collected would win. The others picked Arrogate and the Bob Baffert trainees finished 1-2 in that order).
Morning line (8-5) favorite Accelerate was the choice of more than half those polled with Pavel and The Lieutenant most likely to complete the trifecta.
Bob Ike, syndicated handicapper – Accelerate. “Best horse in not the strongest of Classic fields.”
Jeff Furmanski, press box steward – Accelerate. “Working like a winner.”
Steve Andersen, Daily Racing Form – Accelerate. “Has the most on the line.”
Jay Privman, Daily Racing Form – The Lieutenant. “He’s on my fantasy team. True story.”
John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times – Pavel. “Repeat of Stephen Foster effort wins here.”
Jennie Rees, President of Kentucky-based JR Communications LLC – The Lieutenant. “A price. A graded stakes winner. Improving. Half-brother to Justify.”
Team Intern (Consensus of seven-member DMTC intern Class of ’18) – Roman Rosso. “Great record in South America. Top jockey in Flavien Prat.”
Gary Mandella, trainer – Accelerate. “Pace scenario favors him.”
Eoin Harty, trainer – Accelerate. “Seems to be a standout on this track.”
Ron McAnally, Hall of Fame trainer – Accelerate. “Looks like Sadler has him ready.”
Brian Beach, jockey agent – Accelerate. “He’s the man.”
Art Sherman, trainer – Accelerate. “The only one I’ve seen on the track.”
Richard Mandella, Hall of Fame trainer – Roman Rosso. “New shooter from South America for Baffert.”
Alex Solis, retired Hall of Fame jockey – Pavel. “He looks good on paper.”
Jon Lindo, syndicated handicapper – Accelerate. “The obvious choice. Horse to fear is Pavel.
Jeremy Balan, Bloodhorse – Prime Attraction. “Loves Del Mar and he gets the distance.”
Toby Turrell, clocker and handicapper – Pavel. “Morning activity indicates he’s sitting on go.”
Frank Scatoni, seminar host, handicapper – Prime Attraction. “Likes the course and should be a good price.”
CATAPULT SPRINGS BACK FROM READ IN SUNDAY’S DEL MAR MILE
Catapult, the upset ($44.00) winner of the Grade II $250,000 Eddie Read Stakes on July 22, will be sent out seeking another Grade II victory in Sunday’s $200,000 Del Mar Mile over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course.
It’s a step back of an eighth of a mile in distance for Catapult, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Kittens Joy owned by Woodford Racing LLC. But one that trainer John Sadler is eager to see Catapult take.
“We’re excited,” Sadler said Saturday morning. “He’s a nice horse and he’s doing wonderful.
“ It’s a big field and when you get that many horses going a mile, you need help with the traffic. The draw (No. 1 post) is actually good. It won’t hurt him. The inside at a mile is not bad, but you still need to work out the trip.”
The field from the rail: Catapult (Drayden Van Dyke, 9-2), What a View (Kent Desormeaux, 20-1), True Valor (Brice Blanc, 20-1), Sharp Samurai (Gary Stevens, 7-2), Le Ken (Tyler Baze, 30-1), Bowies Hero (Joel Rosario, 8-1), Caribou Club (Mike Smith, 6-1), B Squared (Mario Gutierrez, 20-1), Fly to Mars (Tyler Gaffalione, 6-1), Om (Joe Talamo, 12-1), Big Score (Rafael Bejarano, 10-1), Next Shares (Stewart Elliott, 20-1) and Hunt (Flavien Prat, 6-1).
CLOSERS – There is a mandatory payout on the Pacific Classic Day Pick Six. The Pick Six begins with race No. 6 and includes all three of the graded stakes on the 11-race program … Trainer Phil D’Amato reports that Pee Wee Reese, vanned off after Friday’s Green Flash Handicap, is OK this morning. “Took a bad step pulling up on the turf, but cooled out OK at the barn yesterday and looks good this morning,” D’Amato said via text. “We will continue to monitor him in the days to come, but as of now it looks like he just took a funky step in a hole while pulling up from the race.” … Selected works from 181 officially timed Saturday morning: Dabster (4f, :48.20), Ike Walker (4f, :48.60), Brill (5f, 1:00.40), Edwards Going Left (5f, :59.00), McKinzie (5f, 1:01.60), Ransom the Moon (5f, 1:00.20), Rowayton (5f, :59.00), Shenandoah Queen (5f, 1:01.20), St. Joe Bay (5f, :59.00), Unique Bella (5f, 1:01.00) and Battle of Midway (6f, 1:12.80).
DEL MAR STATISTICS
Jockey Standings
(Current Through Friday, August 17, 2018 Inclusive)
|
Jockey |
Mts |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Win% |
In-money% |
Money Won |
|
Flavien Prat |
90 |
24 |
16 |
5 |
27% |
50% |
$1,431,085 |
|
Drayden Van Dyke |
83 |
19 |
8 |
11 |
23% |
46% |
$1,305,335 |
|
Tyler Baze |
108 |
17 |
13 |
13 |
16% |
40% |
$978,775 |
|
Heriberto Figueroa |
80 |
16 |
9 |
7 |
20% |
40% |
$444,940 |
|
Assael Espinoza |
119 |
15 |
12 |
10 |
13% |
31% |
$562,645 |
|
Geovanni Franco |
91 |
12 |
8 |
16 |
13% |
40% |
$562,375 |
|
Mario Gutierrez |
74 |
10 |
13 |
9 |
14% |
43% |
$610,410 |
|
Rafael Bejarano |
90 |
9 |
12 |
11 |
10% |
36% |
$633,918 |
|
Tiago Pereira |
77 |
9 |
6 |
12 |
12% |
35% |
$427,157 |
|
Kent Desormeaux |
78 |
7 |
12 |
18 |
9% |
47% |
$603,858 |
Trainer Standings
(Current Through Friday, August 17, 2018 Inclusive)
|
Trainer |
Sts |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Win% |
In-money% |
Money Won |
|
Peter Miller |
72 |
21 |
11 |
7 |
29% |
54% |
$940,135 |
|
Doug F. O'Neill |
95 |
13 |
17 |
12 |
14% |
44% |
$735,065 |
|
Jerry Hollendorfer |
61 |
13 |
11 |
4 |
21% |
46% |
$791,439 |
|
Richard Baltas |
67 |
9 |
8 |
9 |
13% |
39% |
$528,168 |
|
Philip D'Amato |
65 |
9 |
7 |
7 |
14% |
35% |
$690,356 |
|
Jeff Mullins |
34 |
8 |
5 |
2 |
24% |
44% |
$343,310 |
|
John W. Sadler |
40 |
8 |
2 |
5 |
20% |
38% |
$605,394 |
|
Bob Baffert |
23 |
6 |
6 |
3 |
26% |
65% |
$364,160 |
|
William E. Morey |
23 |
6 |
2 |
3 |
26% |
48% |
$267,095 |
|
Brian J. Koriner |
27 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
22% |
33% |
$310,170 |
Winning Favorites Report
(Current Through Friday, August 17, 2018 Inclusive)
Winning favorites -- 68 out of 198 -- 34.34%
Winning favorites on dirt -- 49 out of 122 -- 40.16%
Winning favorites on turf -- 19 out of 76 -- 25.00%
Winning odds-on favorites -- 18 out of 29 -- 62.07%
In-the-Money favorites -- 142 out of 198 -- 71.72%
In-the-Money odds-on favorites -- 28 out of 29 -- 96.55%