By Jim Charvat

Bob Hess Jr. © Benoit Photo

BOB HESS, JR. ONE OF FIRST ARRIVALS FOR DEL MAR’S FALL MEET

More barns set up shop on the backside at Del Mar Tuesday in advance of this Friday’s Opening Day of the 10th Bing Crosby Fall Meet. One of the first to arrive was trainer Bob Hess, Jr., a regular at the seaside oval since he set out from his father’s barn to train horses on his own in 1987. He had his first winner at Del Mar in 1987 and his first training title here in 1991.

Hess has brought a string of 30 horses to Del Mar this fall. While he likes the subdued nature of the fall meet, it’s the track that brings him back every year.

“I think the best surface in the country is Del Mar’s November surface,” Hess says. “The moisture in there helps it out. Less traffic helps it out. It’s a quality track regardless but the main track here is really good.

“It’s like training at a training center,” Hess continues, “but you don’t have to ship and run, you’re already here.”

Because the meet only lasts four weeks, many trainers will keep their stock at Santa Anita and ship in for the races. Bob Hess is not one of them.

“I’d rather be where we’re running,” Hess notes. “It’s quiet. The track’s great. The beach is great and the restaurants are great.”

Hess has brought the winner of this summer’s G3 Cougar II with him to Del Mar this fall.

“Order and Law will run an allowance race in about two weeks,” Hess says. “He ran great here (in the summer) and then he went off form but his work the other day was really nice so I think he’s going to throw out a big one here.

“He’s won three times here,” Hess states. “He loves it here.”

He’s not alone.

DEL MAR WELL REPRESENTED AT BREEDERS’ CUP 2023

Before we open the book on a new Bing Crosby Season at Del Mar let’s close the book on Breeders’ Cup 2023 and recap how the horses who raced or trained at Del Mar over the summer fared at the World Championships at Santa Anita this past weekend. There were a record 32 horses representing Del Mar at the Breeders’ Cup this year compared to 25 at Keeneland in Lexington in 2022. The two horses with the best placings were conditioned by the same trainer and one was ridden by Del Mar’s leading jockey.

National Treasure – Bob Baffert – Flavien Prat - second in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile: The Preakness winner, who trained at Del Mar this past summer but did not race here, finished a heartbreaking second when Cody’s Wish caught him at the wire.

Muth – Bob Baffert – Juan Hernandez - runner-up in the Breeder’ Cup Juvenile: The son of Good Magic was no match for the winner Fierceness. But the colt, who was bought by Zedan Racing Stables for $2 million at the Ocala Sale in March, held off hard-charging race favorite Locked for a good, albeit distant, second. He had also finished second to stablemate Prince of Monaco at Del Mar in the G2 Best Pal in August.

Those were the only two Del Mar reps to finish in the money on Breeders’ Cup weekend. Other notable performances by horses who had raced or trained at Del Mar this summer:

Gold Phoenix – Philip D’Amato – Juan Hernandez: The winner of the G2 Del Mar Handicap for the second year in a row, finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Arabian Knight – Bob Baffert – Flavien Prat: The G1 Fanduel Racing Pacific Classic winner set the early pace and faded to fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Tamara – Richard Mandella – Mike Smith: The G1 Del Mar Debutante winner and daughter of Beholder was the 4-5 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. She looked like she would live up to her billing until she hit the top of the stretch with Just FYI. She couldn’t hang with the winner and finished seventh. She subsequently was found to have a rear-leg injury that will keep her out of action for an indefinite period.

Prince of Monaco – Bob Baffert – Flavien Prat: The son of Speightstown and winner of the G1 Del Mar Futurity came in a distant fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Motorious – Philip D’Amato – Flavien Prat: The winner of the G3 Green Flash worked out a fifth place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Speed Boat Beach – Bob Baffert – Mike Smith: Another one of Bob Baffert’s horses who trained at Del Mar last summer but did not race locally. He ran fourth after setting the early pace in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

The Chosen Vron – J. Eric Kruljac – Hector Berrios: The popular Cal-bred and winner of the G1 Bing Crosby finished fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Adare Manor – Bob Baffert – Juan Hernandez: The winner of the G1 Clement Hirsch came in seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

13 Del Mar-based trainers and eight jockeys participated in this year’s Breeders’ Cup which returns to Del Mar in 2024.

COOLING OUT: Jockey Joe Bravo has announced he will not ride at Del Mar this fall and has decided instead to move his tack to Florida and Gulfstream Park where he can be closer to family...The Bing Crosby Fall Meet at Del Mar opens Friday with eight races on the card including the $100,000 Let It Ride Stakes. First post will be at 12:30 p.m.