By Hank Wesch
LONG AND SHORT OF IT: INTRIGUING WEEKEND STAKES OFFERINGS
Fields were set and post positions drawn Wednesday for stakes races Saturday and Sunday, the penultimate weekend of the inaugural Bing Crosby Season.
Thirteen were entered, with two on the also eligible llist, for Saturday’s $100,000 Grade III Red Carpet Handicap. At 1 3/8 miles on turf, the former Beverly Hills Handicap is the second-longest race of the meeting. On Sunday, the $100,000 Cary Grant Stakes attracted eight California-breds. Among those entered for the seven-furlong former On Trust Stakes are Big Macher, winner of the Grade I Bing Crosby Stakes here last summer, undefeated (6-for-6) Red Outlaw and defending race champion Rousing Sermon.
The field for the Red Carpet, in post position order with oddsmaker Russ Hudak’s morning line is: Appealing Cat (Rafael Bejarano, 7-2), Winning Rhythm (Alex Solis, 5-1), Hijra (Elvis Trujillo, 5-1), Left A Message (Gary Stevens, (15-1), Luscious Lonna (William Antongeorgi III, 12-1), Bee Brave (Martin Garcia, 20-1), Modernstone (Martin Pedroza, 15-1), Three Hearts (Joe Talamo, 15-1), Lady Pimpernel (Victor Espinoza, 6-1), Lady Of Gold (Kent Desormeaux, 6-1), and Scooter Bird (Corey Nakatani, 9-2). The also eligibles are Macaabra (Fernando Perez, 20-1) and Soresca (Tiago Pereira, 20-1).
Favored Appealing Cat is the first of several horses from the stable of trainer H. Graham Motion likely to run in stakes before the close of the meeting on November 30. The East Coast-based Motion is No. 8 in the national statistics with his horses having accounted for more than $10 million in purse earnings in 2014. He trains recent $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf winner and Horse of the Year candidate Main Sequence.
The field for the Cary Grant is: Celebrity Status (Tyler Baze), Got Even (Martin Pedroza), Patriots Rule (Fernando Perez), Soi Phet (Kent Desormeaux), Big Macher (Rafael Bejarano), Magic Mark (Joe Talamo) and Rousing Sermon (Elvis Trujillo).
Red Outlaw is nominated for other upcoming stakes and his presence in the Cary Grant remains to be determined.
“At this point we’re going to look at it and decide. We’re considering the Hollywood Derby and the Seabiscuit as well,” trainer Peter Miller said Thursday morning. The $250,000 Grade II Seabiscuit, 1 1/16 miles on turf for 3-year-olds and up is Friday, November 28. The Grade I $300,000 Hollywood Derby, 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3-year-olds is Saturday, November 29.
“We probably won’t make a decision (about the Cary Grant) until race day on Sunday.”
Red Outlaw worked three furlongs Thursday morning in :37.80.
CALIFORNIA CHROME STAYS ON DERBY TRACK WITH MONDAY WORK
Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner California Chrome, nominated for the closing weekend Native Diver Handicap and Hollywood Derby, worked a half-mile Monday morning at Los Alamitos in :47.80 seconds under regular rider Victor Espinoza.
“Victor told me it was about as good as he’s ever worked,” Sherman said. “He said he had a helluva time holding him. He’s a sharp horse.”
Plans outlined by Sherman have California Chrome vanning from Los Alamitos to Del Mar on Saturday morning. He will work over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course at approximately 9:45 a.m. on Sunday and, based on that work, a decision will be made between the Grade III $200,000 Native Diver at 1 1/8 miles on Polytrack or the Grade I $300,000 Hollywood Derby at 1 1/8 miles on Turf.
Both races are Saturday, November 29.
BETTY’S BAMBINO FAVORED IN THURSDAY FEATURE
Betty’s Bambino, bringing down a two-race winning streak built at Santa Anita, has been tabbed the 3-1 morning line favorite in a field of eight for Thursday’s featured $65,000 allowance. The one mile turf test goes as the seventh on an eight-race program.
Owned by Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stables and Joe Ciaglia and trained by Peter Eurton, Betty’s Bambino recorded comfortable allowance and optional claiming wins over Santa Anita’s downhill turf course on September 27 and October 16 and has remained there to work toward this start. Unraced at 3, the 4-year-old California-bred daughter of Unusual Heat has four wins in eight 2014 starts and earnings of $198,036.
The field for the race from the rail out: Old Time Hockey (Gary Stevens, 8-1), Super Ability (Joe Talamo, 4-1), Power Ped (Tyler Baze, 8-1), Hay Dude (Kent Desormeaux, 7-2), Betty’s Bambino (Martin Garcia, 3-1), Mega Heat (Corey Nakatani, 5-1), Trend (Elvis Trujillo, 6-1) and Jules Journey (Victor Espinoza, 10-1).
TRUJILLO, BAZE TIED FOR TOP SPOT IN JOCKEY STANDINGS
Elvis Trujillo and Tyler Baze start the third week of the Bing Crosby Season tied for the lead in the jockey standings with six wins each. Martin Pedroza and Edwin Maldonado are only one win behind and there are nine riders within three of the top spot.
“There are a lot of good riders and with one good day any guy who’s in the top ten can wind up with the lead,” Trujillo’s agent, Tom Knust, said Thursday morning. “Elvis has been riding well and he’s received a lot of support from the horsemen.”
In the trainer standings, Peter Miller, with six wins, leads Mike Puype by two and has a three-win advantage over Leandro Mora, Bob Hess, Jr., and Vladimir Cerin.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BING
For the inaugural Bing Crosby Season at Del Mar, we offer a daily note, quote or anecdote about the track’s founding father for whom the fall meeting is named.
Accepting his Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Going My Way in 1945, Crosby said: “This is the only country in the world where an old broken-down crooner can win an Oscar for acting. It shows that everybody in this country has a chance to succeed. I was just lucky enough to have Leo McCarey take me by the hand and lead me through the picture.” -- IMDb
MORRIS, NAHILL GUEST ON WEEKEND SEMINARS
Johnny “West Coast Wheelie” Morris will provide the expert selections on Saturday and UT-San Diego handicapper and blogger Jeff Nahill will take care of business on Sunday for the Weekend Handicapping Seminars.
The sessions will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Seaside Terrace near the top of the stretch.
CLOSERS – Career milestones watch: Jockey Alex Solis has 4,996 career wins, jockey Joe Steiner 998 and trainer Jack Carava 994.
DEL MAR STATISTICS
Jockey Standings
(Current Through Sunday, November 16, 2014 Inclusive)
|
Jockey |
Mts |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Win% |
Money Won |
|
Elvis Trujillo |
36 |
6 |
8 |
4 |
17% |
$268,404 |
|
Tyler Baze |
39 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
15% |
$147,390 |
|
Martin Pedroza |
23 |
5 |
4 |
2 |
22% |
$191,024 |
|
Edwin Maldonado |
26 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
19% |
$152,558 |
|
Victor Espinoza |
21 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
24% |
$199,728 |
|
Kent Desormeaux |
30 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
13% |
$140,250 |
|
Fernando Perez |
23 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
17% |
$143,800 |
|
Joseph Talamo |
19 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
21% |
$160,720 |
|
Tiago Pereira |
26 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
12% |
$114,560 |
|
Mike Smith |
16 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
19% |
$192,010 |
Trainer Standings
(Current Through Sunday, November 16, 2014 Inclusive)
|
Trainer |
Sts |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Win% |
Money Won |
|
Peter Miller |
25 |
6 |
5 |
3 |
24% |
$191,128 |
|
Mike Puype |
19 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
21% |
$173,070 |
|
Robert B. Hess, Jr. |
15 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
20% |
$78,940 |
|
Leandro Mora |
27 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
11% |
$131,624 |
|
Vladimir Cerin |
7 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
43% |
$69,060 |
|
Jerry Hollendorfer |
16 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
13% |
$153,748 |
|
George Papaprodromou |
11 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
18% |
$76,220 |
|
Barry Abrams |
6 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
33% |
$78,520 |
|
Richard Baltas |
10 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
20% |
$88,040 |
|
John W. Sadler |
12 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
17% |
$96,630 |
Winning Favorites Report
(Current Through Sunday, November 16, 2014 Inclusive)
Winning favorites -- 20 out of 61 -- 32.79%
Winning favorites on Polytrack -- 14 out of 40 -- 35.00%
Winning favorites on turf -- 6 out of 21 -- 28.57%
Winning odds-on favorites -- 1 out of 7 -- 14.29%
In-the-Money favorites -- 37 out of 61 -- 60.66%
In-the-Money odds-on favorites -- 4 out of 7 -- 57.14%
Thursday, November 20, 2014 Contact: Dan Smith 858-792-4226/Hank Wesch 858-755-1141 ext. 3793