Astronaut proves himself on several levels with Del Mar Handicap upset
DEL MAR, Calif. - Astronaut proved he is a stakes-caliber horse, confirmed his ability at extended distances, and earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 6 with a surprise win in Saturday’s Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap.
Astronaut ($50) raced wide throughout the $302,500 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf and prevailed in the stretch to win his first stakes in his second appearance in such a race.
On June 19 at Santa Anita, Astronaut finished second in the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at about 1 3/4 miles on turf, the longest stakes in Southern California. The result led owner John O’Connor and trainer John Shirreffs to try the Del Mar Handicap, the top turf marathon of the Del Mar summer meeting.
“When he ran a mile and three-quarters, we weren’t sure he wanted that kind of distance,” Shirreffs said.
Astronaut handled a lengthy race that day, and again showed his affinity for a longer trip in the Del Mar Handicap. Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Astronaut was sixth on the first turn and seventh in a field of 11 with three furlongs remaining. Astronaut closed steadily to take the lead and won by a half-length over 22-1 Master Piece.
Astronaut was timed in 2:15.98 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 97.
“If he came into the stretch and was feeling good, we knew he could finish,” Shirreffs said. “It was very exciting. Victor did a masterful job.”
Master Piece had his California debut in the Del Mar Handicap and closed from 10th in the final quarter-mile.
“I worked him the other day and it was a good work,” jockey Drayden Van Dyke said. “I was confident.”
Master Piece was previously trained by Chad Brown and was winless in three Grade 1 races for that prominent stable since last October. Master Piece joined trainer Michael McCarthy’s stable’s earlier this summer.
“I was pleased with the way he ran,” Van Dyke said. “I’m looking forward to riding him at Santa Anita. He only been in Michael’s barn for three weeks.”
Acclimate, who won the 2019 Del Mar Handicap, set a modest pace and finished third, beaten three-quarters of a length.
United, the 2-1 favorite, finished fourth by less than a length, racing in traffic through the stretch.
“We were stuck in there,” jockey Flavien Prat said. “I had to try to work my way around. It was not the trip I wanted.”
Red King and Say the Word finished in a dead-heat for fifth, followed by Arklow, Crossfirehurricane, Award Winner, Media Blitz and Masteroffoxhounds.
Shirreffs is Astronaut’s third trainer. A 4-year-old colt by Quality Road, Astronaut was previously trained by Steve Asmussen and Tom Albertrani.
Astronaut joined Shirreffs’s stable last winter and has won 2 of 6 starts this year. The Del Mar Handicap was Astronaut’s second career win. He won a maiden special weight race at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita in March in his second start of the year.