Isotherm fresh for his return

DEL MAR, Calif. – By Thanksgiving weekend last year, Isotherm was a tired racehorse.

He was last of nine in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs and last of three in the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes on Nov. 25 at Del Mar, losing the latter race by 26 1/4 lengths.

“He soured on us,” trainer Phil D’Amato said.

Isotherm was rested through the winter and spring and will have a different campaign this year, beginning in Wednesday’s $85,000 Harry F. Brubaker Stakes at a mile at Del Mar. The goal will be the major stakes of the autumn for the 6-year-old.

“We gave him plenty of time,” D’Amato said.

The Brubaker drew a field of six and is the sixth race on an eight-race program that includes two carryovers in the pick six – $117,252 in the main pool and $25,126 in the singleticket jackpot pool. The pick six covers the third through eighth races.

All the runners in the Brubaker have stakes experience. The only 2019 stakes winner in the field is Line Judge, who won the Kelly’s Landing Stakes at seven furlongs June 29 at Churchill Downs.

Lombo, also trained by D’Amato, won the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes for 3-year-olds in 2018. Trainer Bob Baffert starts Dr. Dorr, who won the Grade 2 Californian Stakes in 2018, and Leading Score, who won his first start in more than 20 months in an allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option on July 24.

Dr. Dorr has not raced since he finished third in the Grade 2 Kona Gold Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on April 20 at Santa Anita.

Two Thirty Five was winless in three stakes last year, but was a good third behind Leading Score in his first start in two months and second start of 2019.

Isotherm, who races for Matthew Schera, has won two stakes, notably the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf in February 2017, when trained by George Weaver. Isotherm joined D’Amato’s stable prior to the 2018 season.

Isotherm was winless in 10 starts last year. He was second in the Brubaker Stakes and third to eventual champion older male Accelerate in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes a month later at Santa Anita.

Lombo was third in an optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs on July 20, his first start since September and second start for D’Amato. In early 2018, Lombo won a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs and won the Lewis at 1 1/16 miles in his stakes debut two weeks later.

D’Amato said the longer race on Wednesday should suit Lombo.

“That angle has worked for him in the past,” D’Amato said. “He got a good run last time with a good gallop-out.”

Lombo drew the rail and is quick enough to lead. He could face an early threat from Leading Score. Baffert’s concern is that Leading Score may not be able to replicate the performance four weeks later.

“He’s got a lot of speed,” Baffert said. “He’s been doing well. I hope he doesn’t bounce to the moon.”