Zapperkat’s racing career over

DEL MAR, Calif. – Zapperkat, who was disqualified from first to second in Sunday’s Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes at Del Mar, has run her last race.

Trainer Richard Baltas said Wednesday that Zapperkat emerged from the Torrey Pines with a knee injury. The 3-yearold filly underwent a knee operation last year that led to a lengthy layoff.

“I think we’ll retire her,” Baltas said. “She’s had a surgery on a knee. She’s a good horse and has broodmare value.”

Owned by J K Racing and Bruce Chandler, Zapperkat finished first by a head in the $100,690 Torrey Pines Stakes for 3-year-olds fillies at a mile, but was disqualified for bumping twice with runner-up Munny Spunt in the final furlong.

Zapperkat, by Ghostzapper, won 2 of 5 starts and earned $128,520. She finished third in the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes at 2 last October at Santa Anita, but was sidelined after that race with an injury that kept her from an intended start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Barleysugar has grown up

Barleysugar, who runs in Saturday’s Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes on turf at Del Mar, has matured this season, trainer Ed Freeman said.

Last year, the Irish-bred Barleysugar won her American debut in the Sandy Blue Handicap but lost her next four starts, including a close third in the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes last October at Santa Anita.

This year, Barleysugar was sixth in an optional claimer at Santa Anita in March and did not start again until she won an optional claimer at a mile on turf here Aug. 12.

“I think she’s grown up,” Freeman said Wednesday. “Last year, she was difficult to rate and train. This year, she has been much, much better. She switched off in the allowance race. That’s the key to not be rank early.”

Barleysugar was ridden by Kent Desormeaux on Aug. 12, but will be ridden by Tyler Baze in the $200,000 Mabee Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf. Desormeaux is booked to ride Decked Out, who won the Grade 1 American Oaks at Santa Anita last December. Barleysugar was fifth in the American Oaks, beaten two lengths.

“She’s not far behind the rest of the horses and she deserves a chance,” Freeman said. “She’s doing well and she’s here.”

Barleysugar is part of a projected field of 13 that includes Cambodia, winner of the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap here Aug. 5, and Madame Stripes, who won the restricted Osunitas Stakes on July 21.

Saturday’s main race is the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante for 2-year-old fillies at seven furlongs. Spectator, winner of the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes, is the likely favorite in an expected field of eight.

Futurity prospects work

Led by $1 million baby Tatters to Riches, a trio of prospects for the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Futurity on Monday worked Tuesday morning at Del Mar.

Tatters to Riches went right after the first of three renovation breaks and drilled five furlongs in 59.40 seconds under jockey Tyler Baze. He began about six lengths behind a workmate and powered past his company in the lane, then galloped out with enthusiasm all the way to the half-mile pole.

“I wanted him to get a little dirt in his face this morning and give him kind of a target,” said Jeff Mullins, who trains Tatters to Riches. “He got a little keen the first time we put him behind horses up at Santa Anita before we came down here. He handled it well today. He hadn’t had dirt in his face in a long time.”

Tatters to Riches, a colt by Union Rags purchased for $1 million at OBS in April, was a winner of his debut July 29 with Baze aboard.

Moments later, Soul Streit worked six furlongs in 1:12.20 for trainer Bob Baffert, also in company. Soul Streit, owned in part by ESPN college football broadcaster Kirk Herbstreit, won his debut on Aug. 13.

Shortly after the second renovation break, Bolt d’Oro worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 under jockey Corey Nakatani. Bolt d’Oro, owned and trained by Mick Ruis, overcame a tardy start to beat maidens in his lone outing on Aug. 5 with Nakatani up.

Those three are among a prospective field of eight for the Del Mar Futurity, including Run Away, who is unbeaten in three starts and most recently captured the Best Pal Stakes on Aug. 12.

Business up at meet

The Del Mar summer meeting is all but certain to show an increase in all-sources handle when the season concludes Monday.

Through Sunday, the 30th day of the 36-day season, all-sources handle, including ontrack, satellite and account-wagering sources, had improved 7.8 percent over the 2016 season, according to Josh Rubinstein, Del Mar’s chief operating officer.

Rubinstein said the ontrack handle showed an increase of 1.8 percent, while ontrack attendance was down less than 1 percent.

Larger fields have helped to increase handle. Races have averaged 8.43 starters through Sunday compared to 8.11 starters through a similar period last year. The 2016 season ended with an average of 8.31 starters.

Last Sunday, the track had a record pool of $2,056,669 in the 50-cent pick four, far beyond the previous mark of $1,576,876, set Aug. 19, the day of the $1 million Pacific Classic.

Rubinstein attributed the massive rise to “out-of-state, high-volume customers” wagering through satellite and account-wagering sources.

The pick four paid $827.30 after wins by Beautiful Shot ($16.40), Bird Is the Word ($5.60), Sir Samson ($6.20), and Action Hero ($25.40). The pick four races drew fields of 10, 10, 9, and 10.