Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Juvenile wealth spread out among many this summer
DEL MAR, Calif. – Even as more and more horses have been gathered up by fewer trainers nationwide, the Del Mar Debutante has remained egalitarian, with 11 different trainers having won it over the past 11 runnings. The Del Mar Futurity has been taken down by four different trainers in the past five years, the lone double coming for Bob Baffert, who has won that race a record 13 times since 1996.
As the Del Mar season gets under way Wednesday, the natural inclination regarding 2-year-old racing is to assume the bigger barns will do best. And based on percentages, that would certainly make sense. Baffert, Jerry Hollendorfer, Peter Miller, and Doug O’Neill – some of the usual suspects – have plenty of ammunition. But Simon Callaghan, who won last year’s Debutante, has seen his 2-year-old allotment grow noticeably, Keith Desormeaux and Richard Mandella seem particularly well stocked this year, and even a patient man like Neil Drysdale has some precocious youngsters.
Add it up, and this summer should provide plenty of opportunities for 2-year-olds to make a splash on this stage and go on to have a shot at year-end titles.
Baffert will come at the meet in waves, hitting early and late, but ones who look ready to roll early include the colt Roadster (by Quality Road), who has worked brilliantly at Santa Anita, as well as the fillies Der Lu (Orb), Mother Mother (Pioneerof the Nile), and Chasing Yesterday (Tapit), a halfsister to American Pharoah. Admiral Brown (Malibu Moon) is among those to watch for later in the meet.
Hollendorfer already unleashed the best colt seen on this circuit to date, Instagrand, but he’s got more to come, including Dueling (Violence) and Rowayton (Into Mischief). His best filly might be Brill (Medaglia d’Oro), who is set to go in race 7 on Wednesday.
Miller sends out Angel Alessandra (Ghostzapper) against Brill following a series of promising drills at San Luis Rey Downs, where the trainer is based. His precocious colts include Barracuda (Graydar) and Fortnite Dance (Liaison).
O’Neill also is in race 7 on Wednesday with Bizwhacks, second at Santa Anita in her debut, and firster Splashy Kisses (Blame), who landed the rail. His colts include Tariq, second at Los Alamitos in his lone start, and big-ticket item Lebron J (Medaglia d’Oro), who cost $1.2 million at Timonium and could be in action by the end of the meet.
Callaghan has had several runners who have come around quickly, including True Validity, who makes her second start in race 7 on Wednesday, as well as fillies Bellafina, a fine second at Los Alamitos in her debut, and debut winner Tijori, seeking to rebound off a disappointing stakes try in New York. Callaghan’s colt Owning is headed to the Grade 2 Best Pal on Aug. 11 following a debut win at Los Alamitos. Later this summer, look for the filly Dreaming of You (Pioneerof the Nile) as well as the colt Premier League (Animal Kingdom), who was purchased for more than $630,000 at a 2-year-old sale in Great Britain and likely will be pointed to two-turn grass races.
Desormeaux, not known for striking first time out, has the debut-winning filly Reflect pointing to the Grade 2 Sorrento on Aug. 5. He is well stocked with colts, including Jefe, who was third in his debut while wanting longer, and both Asano (Tiznow), who should be ready later in the meet, and Seven Oxen (Oxbow), who seems closer to making his first start.
Mandella has high hopes for Tapwater (Tapit), a filly who has worked well “but wants two turns,” he said. His colt Sly (Orb) should be set to go by the middle of the meet, and late in the meet he hopes to get in first starts for El Vasco (Medaglia d’Oro) and Omaha Beach (War Front).
Drysdale said he didn’t press his 2-year-olds, but “they just came around.” Among the most forward-acting of his bunch is the filly Hello Bubbles (Munnings), who should run early this season.
Luis Mendez, the former assistant to the currently suspended John Brocklebank, already has sent out several winners from limited starters, including the filly Katieleigh, who should run in the Sorrento, and has Vangogo (Gio Ponti) in race 7 on Wednesday.
Phil D’Amato has the filly Lady Lucy – a recent private purchase following a maiden win at Churchill Downs – headed to the Sorrento, and his runners to watch this meet include the filly Mischievous Caller (Into Mischief) and the colt Gum Tree Lane (He’s Had Enough), who was acquired on the recommendation of respected private clocker Gary Young.
Michael McCarthy has several fillies of note, including debut winner Stirred – another Sorrento candidate – and Vibrance (Violence).
Brian Koriner has a few colts who are showing promise, including Its Gonna Hurt (Violence), Music to My Ears (Goldencents), and Strictly Biz (Fed Biz).
Others to watch include the colts Harmon (Cairo Prince) for Paddy Gallagher, Benny the Jet (Bernardini) for Mark Glatt, and Judge Marty (Medaglia d’Oro) for Carla Gaines, and the fillies After the Rose (Pioneerof the Nile) for Gaines, Honeyfromthesouth (Fed Biz) for David Hofmans, and Zest (Tapit) for Cliff Sise.