John Sadler © Benoit
SADLER COULD STRIKE AGAIN WITH MORGANITE IN DEBUTANTE
In retrospect the results weren’t that surprising. But the stages on which trainer John Sadler pulled off upsets to record two of his three stakes victories during the meeting were of the magnitude for him to wear the cloak of “spoiler” quite proudly.
First there was Stellar Wind ending Beholder’s eight-race winning streak in the Clement L. Hirsch, a portent of another runner-up effort by Beholder later in the $1 million TVG Classic.
Then came Accelerate’s victory in the Shared Belief Stakes as the 9-5 second choice to Who’s Out, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, who also handled the champion for whom the race had been renamed this year.
And now, Sadler is lurking outside the spotlight with Morganite, the 7-2 co-third choice in Saturday’s $300,000 Grade I Del Mar Debutante. Sorrento Stakes winner Champagne Room (2-1) is the favorite on oddsmaker Russ Hudak’s morning line with Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s duo of American Cleopatra (5-2) and Noted and Quoted (7-2).
Seven were entered for the Debutante but there is expected to be at least one defection. Molly Pearson-trained Holy Mosey may scratch in favor of Monday’s $100,000 Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Baffert, Del Mar’s all-time leader with 117 stakes victories, has seven Debutante wins and a strong chance at No. 8 with American Cleopatra, a full sister to 2015 Triple Crown champion American Pharoah, and Noted and Quoted, who won by 9 ½ lengths in her second career start, both here, on August 7.
Eurton won the Debutante in 2011 with Weemissfrankie, one year after Sadler, sixth all-time with 55 stakes victories, notched his only victory in the event with Tell a Kelly.
Morganite, a $360,000 purchase for Hronis Racing LLC at the Ocala sale in March, is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Gemologist who defeated Champagne Room by 1 ½ lengths in the racing debut for both here on July 16.
“She won on opening weekend and she’s just been doing great all summer,” Sadler said. “Training consistently every week, and here she is. We think she’s going to be good going long, and that’s next.”
Her debut win was at five furlongs. The Debutante is at seven furlongs. With success, the likely progression would be to the Grade I $300,000 Chandelier Stakes on Saturday, October 1 at Santa Anita and the $2 million 14 Hands Winery Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on November 5 there.
Victor Espinoza, aboard for the debut, is back for the Debutante.
“I’ll leave it up to Victor, but I imagine he’ll read the break and decide what to do,” Sadler said. “If somebody goes (for the lead) he’ll sit second. If nobody goes, he’ll take it himself.”
The Debutante field from the rail: : Miss Southern Miss (Kent Desormeaux, 8-1), Morganite (Victor Espinoza, 7-2), American Cleopatra (Rafael Bejarano, 5-2), Champagne Room (Mario Gutierrez, 2-1), Noted and Quoted (Mike Smith, 7-2), Holy Mosey (Giuseppe Ercegovic, 30-1) and Union Strike (Martin Garcia, 15-1).
SOBRADORA INC, LUCKY BRYAN FAVORED IN SUNDAY STAKES
Sobradora Inc and Lucky Bryan were tabbed for favoritism on the morning lines of oddsmaker Russ Hudak for the $200,000 John C. Mabee and $250,000 Del Mar Derby, respectively, on Sunday.
The open nature of the pair of Grade II events, both at 1 1/8 miles on the turf, was evidenced by Sobradora Inc being listed at 3-1 and Lucky Bryan at 9-2.
Sobradora Inc was a half-length winner over Mabee rivals Prize Exhibit and Elektrum in the $75,000 Osunitas Stakes on August 7. It was the first U.S. start for Sobradora Inc after beginning her career with four straight wins in her native Argentina. The 4-year-old filly is owned by Katsumi Yoshida, trained by Simon Callaghan and ridden by Rafael Bejarano.
Lucky Bryan was second, beaten a half-length by Derby rival Free Rose, in the La Jolla Handicap on August 6. The Kentucky-bred son of Lookin At Lucky is owned by Hronis Racing LLC, trained by John Sadler and ridden by Victor Espinoza.
The field for the John C. Mabee, which goes as the sixth on a 10-race card, from the rail: Gloryzapper (Edwin Maldonado, 12-1), Nancy From Nairobi (Mike Smith, 7-2), Elektrum (Victor Espinoza, 4-1), Queen of The Sand (Gary Stevens, 12-1), Personal Diary (Drayden Van Dyke, 20-1), Sobradora Inc (Rafael Bejarano, 3-1), Fresh Feline (Santiago Gonzalez, 12-1), Avenge (Flavien Prat, 10-1), Finest City (Kent Desormeaux, 12-1), Keri Belle (Norberto Arroyo, Jr., 20-1), Havanna Belle (Tyler Baze, 20-1) and Prize Exhibit (Jamie Theriot, 8-1).
The field for the Del Mar Derby, which goes as the eighth race, from the rail: Gold Rush Dancer (Flavien Prat, 8-1), Blackjackcat (Mike Smith, 8-1), Mr. Roary (Edwin Maldonado, 30-1), Moonlight Drive (Rafael Bejarano, 6-1), I’malreadythere (Tiago Pereira, 20-1), Curlin Rules (Tyler Baze, 15-1), Arcature (Martin Garcia, 20-1), Monster Bea (Gary Stevens, 5-1), Dressed in Hermes (Kent Desormeaux, 12-1), Trojan Nation (Drayden Van Dyke, 12-1), Free Rose (Norberto Arroyo, Jr., 6-1), Lucky Bryan (Victor Espinoza, 9-2), Ralis (Mario Gutierrez, 8-1) and Diplodocus (Jamie Theriot, 30-1). Also eligible are: Ebadan (Santiago Gonzalez, 20-1) and Materialistic (Iggy Puglisi, 30-1).
SIX ENTERED IN FUTURITY AS MEET DRAWS TO A CLOSE
A field of six was entered Friday morning for the Grade I $300,000 Grade I Del Mar Futurity on Monday, the closing day of the meeting.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will seek to add to his record 12 Futurity victories when he sends out Best Pal Stakes winner Klimt. The Kentucky-bred son of Quality Road is expected to get a strong test over the seven furlongs from Chasing Acaes, who broke a 52-year-old track record for five furlongs on August 13, and Straight Fire, 10 ½-length victor in his last start.
The final post position draw of the meeting was scheduled later Friday. The Futurity field in alphabetical order with trainer/jockey in parentheses: Chasing Aces (Peter Miller/Tyler Baze), Dynamic Ruler (Vann Belvoir/Flavien Prat), Klimt (Bob Baffert/Rafael Bejarano), Midnight Pleasure (Shelbe Ruis/Martin Garcia), Straight Fire (Keith Desormeaux/Kent Desormeaux) and Vegas Itch (George Papaprodromou/Jamie Theriot).
DEL MAR TO SALUTE RETIRED TRAINER MEL STUTE SUNDAY
Del Mar will give a tip of the cap to retired trainer Mel Stute Sunday with the day’s 5th Race named “Del Mar Salutes Mel Stute” and a short ceremony honoring him to follow in the winner’s circle.
The 89-year-old horseman, who conditioned Thoroughbreds for more than 60 years, is still a regular fan at Southern California racetracks and will be joined Sunday by family and friends, including his wife of 66 years, Annabelle, and his trainer son Gary.
Stute saddled more than 2,000 winners during his career and won major stakes with champions Snow Chief and Brave Raj, as well as Very Subtle, Telly’s Pop, Double Discount and First Balcony.
He raced horses at Del Mar for 57 seasons and won 292 races locally, 26 of them stakes.
DEL MAR ‘NOTES’ WRITER HANK WESCH IS NTWAB AWARD WINNER
(Editor’s Note: Hank Wesch, a former San Diego Union-Tribune sportswriter and longtime turf writer for that paper, has been Del Mar’s “Stable Notes” writer for the past five years. Today, the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters announced that he was the winner of their prestigious Walter Haight Award for career turf writing excellence. A link to the NTWAB website and the release on their annual awards can be accessed here.)
MARINE “WAR HORSE” HONORED WITH CAMP PENDLETON STATUE
Staff Sgt. Reckless, a part-Thoroughbred horse who served heroically with U.S. Marine troops during the Korean War, will be honored with a statue on the Camp Pendleton Marine base approximately 20 miles north of Del Mar. The life-sized bronze piece is scheduled to be installed near the USMC Memorial Garden over the next two months.
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club officials had worked with Sgt. Reckless advocates to help raise funds for the statue during its 2014 Fall race meeting. The track named a race in the Korean-bred mare’s honor and hosted members of the Camp Pendleton Historical Society led by retired Marine colonel Richard Rothwell, along with Robin Hutton, the author who wrote a book on the famous horse entitled “Sgt. Reckless: America’s War Horse.”
Staff Sgt. Reckless hauled ammunition through enemy fire up steep hills, then helped evacuate wounded troops on her return trips. At one point she was wounded by shrapnel, yet continued on with her duties, earning two Purple Hearts and the Marines’ admiration for her valor. When the war ended, she was flown to Camp Pendleton and lived out her life on the base.
Private fund-raising efforts to build the statue and memorial has been successful enough to raise $133,000 of the $165,000 needed for the project. Donations are still being sought to complete it and they can be made to the Camp Pendleton Historical Society, P.O. Box 5497, Oceanside, CA 92052.
CLOSERS – Santiago Gonzalez piloted Back Beauty (4th, $4.20) and The All Button (8th, $4.00) to victories Thursday to tighten the jockey race up somewhat entering the final four days of the meeting. Flavien Prat , winless the first two days of the meet’s final week, holds a 35-30 win margin over four-time defending champion Rafael Bejarano with Gonzalez one behind Bejarano … Meet-leading trainer Phil D’Amato saddled Pee Wee Reese (3rd, $15.40) to a victory to maintain a three-win margin (20-17) over Richard Baltas and Peter Miller.
DEL MAR STATISTICS
Jockey Standings
(Current Through Thursday, September 1, 2016 Inclusive)
|
Jockey |
Mts |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Win% |
In-money% |
Money Won |
|
Flavien Prat |
186 |
35 |
26 |
23 |
19% |
45% |
$2,074,511 |
|
Rafael Bejarano |
146 |
30 |
30 |
22 |
21% |
56% |
$2,004,297 |
|
Santiago Gonzalez |
197 |
29 |
30 |
21 |
15% |
41% |
$1,389,083 |
|
Tyler Baze |
171 |
22 |
23 |
31 |
13% |
44% |
$1,362,654 |
|
Kent Desormeaux |
123 |
21 |
20 |
17 |
17% |
47% |
$1,308,638 |
|
Norberto Arroyo, Jr. |
101 |
16 |
13 |
12 |
16% |
41% |
$783,312 |
|
Stewart Elliott |
97 |
16 |
8 |
8 |
16% |
33% |
$584,030 |
|
Victor Espinoza |
64 |
14 |
9 |
10 |
22% |
52% |
$1,547,990 |
|
Tiago Pereira |
98 |
11 |
12 |
9 |
11% |
33% |
$539,315 |
|
Drayden Van Dyke |
64 |
11 |
6 |
10 |
17% |
42% |
$656,317 |
Trainer Standings
(Current Through Thursday, September 1, 2016 Inclusive)
|
Trainer |
Sts |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Win% |
In-money% |
Money Won |
|
Philip D'Amato |
91 |
20 |
13 |
10 |
22% |
47% |
$1,331,452 |
|
Richard Baltas |
81 |
17 |
18 |
9 |
21% |
54% |
$991,216 |
|
Peter Miller |
93 |
17 |
14 |
12 |
18% |
46% |
$882,736 |
|
Bob Baffert |
60 |
16 |
13 |
7 |
27% |
60% |
$1,304,425 |
|
Mark Glatt |
49 |
11 |
8 |
10 |
22% |
59% |
$448,979 |
|
John W. Sadler |
51 |
11 |
8 |
9 |
22% |
55% |
$765,840 |
|
James M. Cassidy |
45 |
10 |
4 |
8 |
22% |
49% |
$521,664 |
|
Doug F. O'Neill |
114 |
9 |
15 |
20 |
8% |
39% |
$688,160 |
|
Michael Machowsky |
22 |
9 |
0 |
2 |
41% |
50% |
$274,697 |
|
Mike Puype |
57 |
6 |
9 |
7 |
11% |
39% |
$273,715 |
Winning Favorites Report
(Current Through Thursday, September 1, 2016 Inclusive)
Winning favorites -- 110 out of 308 -- 35.71%
Winning favorites on dirt -- 80 out of 203 -- 39.41%
Winning favorites on turf -- 30 out of 105 -- 28.57%
Winning odds-on favorites -- 24 out of 49 -- 48.98%
In-the-Money favorites -- 221 out of 308 -- 71.75%
In-the-Money odds-on favorites -- 41 out of 49 -- 83.67%
Contact: Dan Smith 858-792-4226/Hank Wesch 858-755-1141 ext. 3793