Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Van Dyke has eye on title
DEL MAR, Calif. – Last week, on a quiet morning at Del Mar, Drayden Van Dyke slipped out of the stable area and drove to a local fast food joint to buy breakfast for the staff at trainer John Sadler’s barn.
From the drive-thru, Van Dyke ordered 30 breakfast sandwiches and 10 burritos, much to the surprise of the restaurant staff. A few minutes later, two members of the staff walked to Van Dyke’s car with the $170 order.
“Two ladies come out with two bags on each side,” Van Dyke recalled last weekend. “I opened the door and here I am this little guy. They must have thought, ‘What the hell?’ ”
Well, that little guy with the big order is doing things in a large way at Del Mar this summer.
Through Sunday, Van Dyke had nine wins in the first 10 days of racing at the 36-day season, good enough for second in the standings to Flavien Prat, with 10 wins.
Road trips to local restaurants on behalf of stable employees is one way to pay back the people behind the scenes who help prepare the horses that have propelled the 23-year-old Van Dyke to the front rank on a tough circuit. Sadler-trained runners have been pivotal to Van Dyke’s success since the Del Mar meeting began on July 18.
On July 21, Van Dyke rode the Sadler-trained Catalina Cruiser to an impressive win in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles. The following day, Van Dyke scored an upset win for Sadler on Catapult in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes on turf.
Catalina Cruiser, unbeaten in three starts, is a candidate for the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga on Sept. 1. The San Diego was Catalina Cruiser’s first start around two turns and first appearance in a stakes.
“To go long in a stakes company, we knew he was capable of doing that,” Van Dyke said. “He’s an amazing horse. He travels similar to Justify – a big, long stride and a high cruising speed. That’s a deadly combo.”
Van Dyke, who won the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding apprentice in 2014, can be considered an expert on Triple Crown hero Justify, who was trained by Bob Baffert. Van Dyke rode the colt to a maiden win in February before Mike Smith took over for the remaining five races of Justify’s brief career.
This year, Van Dyke has been closely allied with Baffert, frequently working important runners for him. Van Dyke recently has been riding for Sadler, Jerry Hollendorfer, and Peter Miller.
For Hollendorfer, Van Dyke has ridden the 2-year-olds Brill, Instagrand, and Rowayton, all expected to run in stakes in coming weeks. Last year, Van Dyke rode It Tiz Well to stakes wins at Delaware Park and Parx Racing for Hollendorfer.
For Miller, Van Dyke rode Stormy Liberal to a win in an allowance race on July 25. Stormy Liberal won the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint last November.
With Baffert, Van Dyke rode Marley’s Freedom to victory in the Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos on July 8 and Mother Mother to a win in a maiden race for 2-year-old fillies on July 22.
“I’m in an awesome spot,” Van Dyke said. “It’s all good. I’ve got to keep connected and getting winners.”
Some of those runners could appear in stakes at other tracks before the Del Mar meeting ends on Sept. 3. If Van Dyke travels out of town to ride them, his goal of being leading rider here might be at risk.
“Shipping out of town for the important races, you have to do it,” Van Dyke said. “Hopefully, you don’t miss too many winners. If you can win a Grade 1 or win a few maiden races, I’d rather have the Grade 1.”
Van Dyke won two riding titles at Los Alamitos in 2014, but that is a far lesser accomplishment than winning the title at a Del Mar summer meeting, the focus for so many owners, trainers and jockeys. If he can keep pace with 2017 champion Prat, Van Dyke figures to have a chance.
“I’m after him,” Van Dyke said of Prat. “He’s the one to beat.”
To reach that goal, Van Dyke must work horses in the morning so he can ride them in the afternoon. Van Dyke is up at 4:45 a.m. each day and in the stables as the sun rises. He said he has avoided the temptation of a night out in Del Mar.
“I don’t have a nightlife,” Van Dyke said. “There is no messing around right now. I’m definitely waking up before the alarm. I’m eager to get up.”