By Jim Charvat

Elm Drive © Benoit Photo 

D’AMATO, BAFFERT SHOWDOWN IN G1 CLEMENT HIRSCH SATURDAY

A showdown of sorts is set to take place Saturday afternoon on the main track at Del Mar. Two trainers, co-champions of last year’s training title, will pit their best distaffers against each other in the G1 Clement Hirsch, a ‘Win and You’re In’ for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Out of barn ‘A’ is Philip D’Amato and his two fillies, Elm Drive and Desert Dawn. And out of Barn ‘FF’ is Bob Baffert and his one-two punch of Fun to Dream and Adare Manor. A field of five will go to the gate for the Hirsch. Trainer John Sadler’s Kirstenbosch is the one crashing the party. The short field doesn’t bother D’Amato.

“There are two speed horses in the race, Elm Drive and Adare Manor,” D’Amato says. “It’s not like there are six speed horses there in a dirt sprint. If both of them are smart about it, they both should have good chances to win.”

“It’s all about the break,” Baffert adds. “If you don’t break well you’re in trouble. A small field means they’re all tough, they all see each other. They’re doing well and all you can do is hope is that they get the trip.”

Baffert’s Fun to Dream, the Cal-bred Horse of the Year in 2022, has never finished worse than second in eight career starts. She won two races at Del Mar last year, the Fleet Treat in the summer and the Betty Grable in the fall, both Cal-bred stakes races. She stepped out into open company and won the G1 La Brea and the G2 Santa Monica before losing by just a head to A Mo Reay in the G1 Beholder.

Baffert says the key to keeping a horse like Fun to Dream in form is the spacing of races.

“If you can give them time in between races that helps,” Baffert says. “Just like they did with Flightline. It’s tough when you’re going for the Triple Crown. That’s why those horses like American Pharoah and Justify were so superior. There’s only a few that are made like that.

“Fillies are a little bit tougher to keep in form,” Baffert continues. “They get light on you. You have to be careful there.”

Baffert’s other filly, Adare Manor, is riding a three-race win streak, the last two of which were Grade II’s, the Santa Maria and the Santa Margarita, both of which she won by over four lengths.

“We freshened her up,” Baffert says. “She’s just a big, long jumpin’ mare. She’s got a big long stride on her. We’ve been pointing for this race. It’s a good spot and they’re both doing really well.”

D’Amato is just as confident about his chances.

“She’s given me three good performances in a row,” D’Amato says about Elm Drive. “So I feel she’s in a real good form cycle right now. She followed up her last race with two fine drills. It’s a five-horse field in a Grade I; we’re going to take a shot.”

He is not too concerned with Elm Drive stretching out.

“She’s gone six and a half on the long stretch at Los Al,” D’Amato says. “So I think a little softer fractions going two turns here should be right up her alley.”

D’Amato says he’s looking for improvement from Desert Dawn, who was runner-up to Blue Stripe in last year’s Clement Hirsch.

“Last race she was taken out of her game,” D’Amato says. “There was one speed horse in there and she was trying to chase Adare Manor, which was not good for her. She’s shown an affinity for this track so this time I don’t think she’s going to have to change her style. She’ll get her feet under her and come with a run.”

The mile and a sixteenth $400,000 Clement Hirsch is the 10th of 11 races on the Saturday card. Approximate post time is 6:30 p.m.

Here’s the field from the rail with the jockeys and the morning line odds: Elm Drive (Ricky Gonzalez, 8-1); Fun to Dream (Ramon Vasquez, 9/5); Adare Manor (Juan Hernandez, 4/5); Kirstenbosch (Hector Berrios, 10-1), and Desert Dawn (Umberto Rispoli, 5-1).

KINGS RIVER KNIGHT GUNS FOR THIRD STRAIGHT IN ‘DREAMIN’

Now that The Chosen Vron has set his sights on the Breeders’ Cup, the Cal-bred division for older horses is ripe for the taking and the next in line intends to lay claim to his throne this Saturday in the $150,000 California Dreamin’, a mile and a sixteenth turf test for Cal-breds 3-years-old and up.

Kings River Knight appears the likely successor to The Chosen Vron off of his last three races, two of them victories and the other a near miss.

“He’s been very good since he’s come to Southern California,” trainer John Sadler says. “First time we ran him he was a real good second to The Chosen Vron. Then he won the next two Cal-bred stakes.”

Kings River Knight lost by a nose to The Chosen Vron in the $100,000 Sensational Star in March at Santa Anita. He followed with victories in the $100,000 Crystal Water in May and the $100,000 Bertrando at Los Alamitos in June. One on the turf and one on the dirt.

“He’s a very versatile horse,” Sadler points out. “He’s a winner on multiple surfaces; dirt, turf and synthetic.”

Kings River Knight won both of his races at Del Mar last year, breaking his maiden and then winning an entry-level allowance race. He then went up to Golden Gate Fields and competed in open company.

“He came here in really good shape,” Sadler says. “I think the Cal-bred stakes program we offer here fits him to a tee.”

Trainer Peter Miller brings two upset possibilities to the California Dreamin’. None Above the Law won the G2 Del Mar Derby in 2021. He’s a hard knocker who has not won since that summer day two years ago.

“He’s doing real good,” Miller says. “He loves this track. He hasn’t run up to expectations so far this year but we’re expecting a big effort.”

His stablemate, Indian Peak was a close third to The Chosen Vron and Kings River Knight in the Sensational Star, his first race back in 2023 after an eight-month layoff. He’s run two races since, both on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita, so he’ll be stretching out again Saturday.

“He almost won the Seabiscuit here a couple of years ago,” Miller says. “On his day he can certainly win the race.”

Last year’s winner of the California Dreamin’, Carmelita’s Man is back to defend his crown. He won twice at Del Mar last summer but the Dean Pederson trainee hasn’t visited the winners circle since.

The back-to-back stakes action at Del Mar on Saturday gets underway with the California Dreamin’. It’s race #9 on the 11-race card. Approximate post time is 6 p.m.

Here is the field from the rail with the jockeys and the morning line odds: Royal ‘n Rando (Armando Ayuso, 15-1); Hacking It Up (Diego Herrera, 15-1); None Above the Law (Joe Bravo, 8-1); Larry’s Legend (Edwin Maldonado, 15-1); Carmelita’s Man (Tiago Pereira, 4-1); Kings River Knight (Umberto Rispoli, 9/5); Jimmy Blue Jeans (Kent Desormeaux, 8-1); Bally’s Charm (Hector Berrios, 8-1); Bang for Your Buck (Geovanni Franco, 15-1) and Indian Peak (Ramon Vasquez, 5-1).

CONNECTIONS WEIGH SEVERAL OPTIONS FOR BRICKYARD RIDE

Trainer Craig Lewis says there are many options being considered for Brickyard Ride, pacesetter and eventual third-place finisher behind Senor Buscador and Slow Down Andy in last weekend’s G2 San Diego. They’re looking at three races here at Del Mar as well as a couple out of town stakes. It’s one of the perks of having a horse that excels on both turf and dirt.

“He could run in the Del Mar Mile (G2),” Lewis says. “Could run in the Pat O’Brien (G2). Could run in the Longacres Mile. Could run in the Charles Town Classic (G3). Could even run in the Green Flash (G3).”

The $150,000 Longacres Mile is August 13. The Pat O’Brien is August 26 at Del Mar; the Del Mar Mile and the Green Flash are on the Pacific Classic undercard on September 2 and the Charles Town Classic is August 25. Lewis admits the race back east may be the most ambitious of the options.

“It’s a mile and an eighth which might be extending what he likes to do,” Lewis says. “But it’s a bullring and it’s a short stretch and speed stays there. We’ve run there a few times so we’re very familiar with it.

“His daddy ran there,” Lewis continues, referring to Brickyard Ride’s sire Clubhouse Ride. “He ran second to Game On Dude (in 2013). Lost in a photo. We were disappointed because it was a million dollars guaranteed to the winner. So his son might return to the scene of the crime.”

HANDICAPPING SEMINARS AT DEL MAR THIS WEEKEND

Del Mar’s series of handicapping seminars continues this weekend. Every Saturday and Sunday during the summer meet, top handicappers will offer their insights prior to the races. The sessions are free and held at the Plaza de Mexico, next to the large fountain.

On Saturday, host Frank Scatoni will have long time horseplayer Frank Tate as his handicapping guest. Then on Sunday, Dan Smith will have veteran sportswriter and columnist Art Wilson as his guest. The seminars start at 1 p.m. and last 30-to-45 minutes.

“DONUTS AT DEL MAR” RETURNS THIS SUNDAY

One of the most popular events at Del Mar is back this Sunday. “Donuts at Del Mar” has been bringing families out to the track for the morning workouts for years. It’s a chance to watch some horses work and learn a thing or two about horseracing from popular trainers and jockeys who will be on hand. But the star of the show is, and always will be, the donuts…

It starts at 8 a.m. on the west side of the tarmac and goes until 10. Michelle Yu will host the event with special guests trainer Bob Hess, Jr. and jockey Juan Hernandez.

NEW ORLEANS FOOD AND MUSIC FESTIVAL AT DEL MAR SATURDAY

The Big Easy is coming to Del Mar. The Taste of New Orleans Food and Music Festival will be held Saturday at the Seaside Cabana at the west end of the tarmac. There will be a variety of Cajun food, drinks and beads.

You can chow down on the gumbo, the jambalaya, even po’boys and beignets, then wash it down with a frozen daiquiri or other popular New Orleans drinks. There will even be a mini-parade and live Cajun music. Best of all it’s trackside, so you won’t miss any of the racing action. Tickets are available now at dmtc.com.

COOLING OUT:  Justique, the 2-year old sensation at Del Mar last year, is entered to run in a second level allowance race Saturday. It’s race #4 on the 11-race program. Last summer Justique, a daughter of Justify, broke her maiden with a scintillating, last-to-first rally. She hasn’t raced since finishing 4^th in the G3 Santa Ysabel in March…Henry Q is the highweight at 122 pounds in Sunday’s G3 La Jolla Handicap. The son of Blame is out of the Doug O’Neill barn and will be ridden by Antonio Fresu…Notable works on Friday: Dirt – And Tell Me Nolies (4f, :48.40); Arabian Knight (4f, :49.20); Geaux Rocket Ride (4f, :48.40); Neige Blanche (4f, :47.80); Arabian Lion (5f, 1:01.60); Fort Bragg (5f, :58.80) and Skinner (5f, 1:00.80).

Del Mar Statistics

 Jockey Standings
(Current Through August 3, 2023 Inclusive)

Trainer Standings
(Current Through August 3, 2023 Inclusive)

Winning Favorites Report
(Current Through August 3, 2023 Inclusive)

 Winning favorites -- 21 out of 78 -- 26.92%
Winning favorites on dirt -- 12 out of 44 -- 27.27%
Winning favorites on turf -- 9 out of 34 -- 26.47%
Winning odds-on favorites -- 2 out of 8 -- 25.00%
In-the-Money favorites -- 44 out of 78 -- 56.41%
In-the-Money odds-on favorites -- 4 out of 8 -- 50.00%