African Oil gets class relief, seeks first U.S.win
DEL MAR, Calif. – It’s always nice to be around friends. That should be especially so on Thursday at Del Mar for African Oil, who is back in a first-level optional-claiming race after failing to be a factor in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes last time out. This class relief could be just what he needs to get his first victory in this country.
African Oil is one of 11 runners entered in race 8, the day’s feature, an optional claimer on turf in which four of the horses are eligible to be claimed for $40,000. The race was especially appealing for Simon Callaghan, African Oil’s trainer, because he believes the 1 3/8-mile distance should suit African Oil.
“Last time, we took a little bit of a shot with him in the Whittingham,” Callaghan said. “He ran into the rail in that race, got a little bit of a knot, a superficial cut, so we decided to freshen him. We were looking forward to Del Mar because you can be confident a long race like this will fill here. They normally don’t anywhere else but here.
“He’s always galloped out well at a mile and a quarter, so he should like the distance. This weaker field should be well received.”
African Oil landed post 10 in the 11-horse field. With a short run to the first of three turns, he will have to work out a trip.
KEY CONTENDERS
African Oil (Last 3 Beyers: 78-89-75)
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 10 African Oil. Trainer Simon Callaghan is just 2 for 40 ($1.23 ROI) in turf routes at Del Mar over the past five years. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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◗ Though winless in this country after four starts, African Oil ran his best race going 1 1/4 miles at this class level May 1 at Santa Anita in his race prior to the Whittingham. He finished second to a next-out winner and was 4 1/4 lengths clear of third-place Christopher Street, one of his rivals here.
◗ African Oil added blinkers for that May 1 race, and he was ridden that day by Joe Talamo. He is reunited with Talamo for this race, and blinkers, which he wore again in the Whittingham, remain on.
Mambo Man (Last 3 Beyers: 12-80-86)
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 11 Mambo Man. Has 4 wins and 1 second in 5 career starts at 10 furlongs or longer on a firm turf course. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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◗ He was completely overmatched in the two-mile Belmont Gold Cup the day before the Belmont Stakes, which produced that ugly last-out Beyer, but his two prior races and aptitude at this distance make him a formidable rival.
◗ Mambo Man won a pair of minor stakes at Turf Paradise in April and May, and he was a winner at this class level going 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita in March. That was the start of a three-race win streak he amassed before heading to New York.
◗ He won over this course, at this distance, and at this class level last summer.
Christopher Street (Last 3 Beyers: 81-87-81)
◗ Though well behind African Oil in that May 1 allowance race at Santa Anita, he did win 2 of 3 prior to that and is reunited with Mike Smith, who has ridden him in two of his three career victories.
◗ Of concern is that Christopher Street did not perform well on this course last year, but he had a different trainer at the time, and the type of grass on this course has changed since then.