Bal a Bali sitting on solid effort in Seabiscuit Handicap
Bal a Bali has lost only three times in his 16-race career. He was a star in Brazil, where he won the 2014 Rio Triple Crown, and had a flashy American debut in May, winning the American Stakes at Santa Anita.
Two fifth-place finishes in June and August were the first consecutive losses in his career and were followed by a win in an optional claimer at Del Mar on Oct. 30. It is the latter race that gives trainer Richard Mandella confidence that Bal a Bali can win his 11th stakes in Friday’s $250,000 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar.
“I think he may be in for a big race,” Mandella said.
In Mandella-speak, that’s a full endorsement. The Hall of Fame trainer is not one to brag heavily on his runners, preferring to talk them up in the winner’s circle.
Bal a Bali is part of a competitive field of nine in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap, which is run at 1 1/16 miles on turf. Rafael Bejarano, who rode Bal a Bali for the first time in the optional claimer Oct. 30, has the mount. Bal a Bali is one of three runners assigned the top weight of 122 pounds, along with Avanzare, who won the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile Handicap on turf Aug. 23, and Alert Bay, who won the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita on Sept. 27.
KEY CONTENDERS
Bal a Bali (Last 3 Beyers: 101-98-99)
◗ Bal a Bali was beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Avanzare in the Del Mar Mile, racing in traffic in early stretch before closing between rivals late. In the optional claimer Oct. 30, Bal a Bali had a cleaner trip, closing from sixth in a field of nine to win by 1 3/4 lengths.
“That was no easy race the other day,” Mandella said. “I think he’s getting better as we go.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Bal a Bali. Trainer Richard Mandella is 20-0-1-6 over the past five years in turf route graded stakes with last-out winners returning in 60 days or fewer. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Seek Again (Last 3 Beyers: 101-105-100)
◗ Seek Again is winless in four starts this year but has managed third- and fourth-place finishes in Grade 1 and Grade 2 races throughout the nation. Trained by Bill Mott, Seek Again was fourth, beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Grand Arch, in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 3 in his most recent start.
“He’s run well every time,” Mott said on Wednesday. “He hasn’t run a bad one. We’ve run into some nice horses. He’s always been a factor.”
Alert Bay (Last 3 Beyers: 95-105-100)
◗ Alert Bay is the sharpest runner in the field, having won his last three starts, including two races at Golden Gate Fields. After winning the City of Hope Mile on Sept. 27, Alert Bay won an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Golden Gate Fields on Nov. 6, racing near the front throughout and winning by a nose over the multiple stakes winner G. G. Ryder.
Avanzare (Last 3 Beyers: 100-101-103)
◗ Trained by Tom Proctor, Avanzare was only third in the City of Hope Mile as the 8-5 favorite, fading in the final furlong.
◗ Avanzare figures to be near the pace, a style that led to a win in the Grade 2 Arcadia Stakes at Santa Anita in January.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Avanzare. Trainer Tom Proctor is 86-4-16-14 with a $0.36 ROI over the past two years in turf routes in Southern California. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Toowindytohaulrox and No. 7 Midnight Storm. Trainer Phil D’Amato is 47-12-6-3 with a $4.37 ROI over the past two years going sprint to route on turf. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan