O’Neill 2-year-olds are rolling

DEL MAR, Calif. – Since May 1, trainer Doug O’Neill has won 40 races nationwide, finished first in the trainer standings at the Santa Anita spring-summer meeting, and had four wins on July 18, opening day of the Del Mar meeting.

O’Neill’s 2-year-old runners have played a pivotal role in that success. O’Neill had won nine races from 57 2-year-old starters from May 1 through Sunday, compared to three wins from 26 starters in the same span last year.

“We’ve had a lot of luck with the homebreds and the private purchases,” O’Neill said Wednesday.

O’Neill has had one 2-yearold stakes winner this year, with Lippy in the Juan Gonzalez Stakes at the Oak Tree at Pleasanton meeting on June 30. Saturday, O’Neill will have his fourth starter in a 2-year-old stakes at Del Mar this summer when Mason Dixon runs in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at six furlongs.

So far at this meeting for O’Neill, Lippy was third in the CTBA Stakes for Californiabred fillies on Aug. 1, Carnivorous was fourth in the Graduation Stakes for California-breds on Aug. 4, and Dichotomy was eighth in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes last Sunday.

Mason Dixon, a Union Rags colt, won his debut in a $150,000 claimer for maidens at five furlongs July 21, closing from fifth in a field of nine to win by three-quarters of a length.

“I like the way he did it,” O’Neill said. “He’ll have to improve.”

The $200,000 Best Pal Stakes will have a small field. The field is expected to be led by the impressive maiden special weight winner Instagrand, who is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer. Maiden winners Owning, Sparky Ville, and Synthesis are among the other projected starters in the Best Pal, a key prep for the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 3.

Through the rest of the month, O’Neill figures to be active in stakes and maiden races for 2-year-olds.

Lippy is being pointed to the $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes for California-bred fillies on Aug. 29, while Dichtomy is likely for the $100,000 Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf at a mile on Sept. 3.

The Into Mischief colt Tariq, who was purchased for $450,000 at the Barretts sale in April, is expected to start in a maiden race at Del Mar.

Nakatani to have back surgery

Jockey Corey Nakatani will undergo back surgery within two weeks and will be sidelined for two months following an accident on Saturday at Del Mar, his son and agent, Matt Nakatani, said Tuesday.

“He has a herniated disc that’s up against the spinal cord,” Matt Nakatani said. “He needs this to get back to normal.”

Matt Nakatani said much of the surgery is “to go in and clean up a previous injury.”

Corey Nakatani, 47, was injured on Saturday when his mount, Irish Spring, appeared to clip the heels of Aussie Fox, who drifted into the path of Irish Spring in upper stretch on the turf course.

Nakatani was diagnosed with a herniated disc and severe cervical stenosis. He was hospitalized on Saturday night but released Sunday morning and has returned to his home near Santa Anita.

Got Stormy going distance

Got Stormy, who has won three consecutive one-mile turf stakes, will attempt to stretch out to 1 1/8 miles in the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 18, trainer Mark Casse said Wednesday.

“She’s at the top of her game,” said Casse, who trains Got Stormy for Gary Barber. “Right now is the time to try. My only concern is the distance, but I also think Del Mar’s turf course will suit her really well. She’s got a quick turn of foot, and with those short turns I think she’s got a big shot.”

In her last three starts, Got Stormy has won the Penn Oaks at Penn National, the Wild Applause at Belmont, and the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen at Woodbine.

Casse said that John Velazquez, who rode Got Stormy in the Wild Applause, and Patrick Husbands, who was aboard for the Colleen, both said they “didn’t see any reason why she wouldn’t go any farther.”

Casse said that Tyler Gaffalione would ride Got Stormy in the Del Mar Oaks.

On Wednesday at Saratoga, Got Stormy worked five furlongs in 1:02.56 over the main track.

Sigalert eyes Del Mar Futurity

The closing-day Del Mar Futurity is very much in the picture for Sigalert, who weaved his way through traffic to win first time out Saturday for trainer John Sadler.

“He didn’t strike me as a speedy, speedy type of colt in his works,” Sadler said of Sigalert, who is by Street Sense, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. “I think he’s a horse who wants to route.”

Regardless, Sigalert was able to get up in time going 5 1/2 furlongs on Saturday under Drayden Van Dyke. In the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 3 he’ll have seven furlongs with which to work.

“Drayden said he really picked it up after the wire,” Sadler said. “I think he’ll be at his best when he gets to go two turns. We’re very happy with him. Mentally, he’s a very settled colt.”

Sadler trains Sigalert for his primary clients, Kosta and Pete Hronis.