Balnikhov gets clever ride from Rispoli to win Oceanside
DEL MAR, Calif. -- With slightly more than a quarter-mile remaining in Friday’s $104,000 Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar, Balnikhov was positioned between horses toward the back of a field of 13.
In a big field, Balnikhov did not appear to be having the best trip, a situation that changed rapidly as the field of 3-year-olds entered the stretch. Jockey Umberto Rispoli found running room between rivals leaving the turn and again along the rail with more than a furlong remaining.
Quickly, Balnikhov shot to the front, pulling clear to win the one-mile turf race by 1 1/2 lengths.
The Oceanside was the first time Rispoli was aboard Balnikhov in a race, but the duo performed like old partners.
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“He took a chance,” trainer Phil D’Amato said of Rispoli’s race tactics.
“He could have gone wide and gotten the job done. He elected to save ground and had a nice kick.”
Balnikhov ($8.40) was timed in 1:34.85 and won for the first time in the United States in his fourth start in the country. Balnikhov earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 89.
Owned by the partnership of Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stables and Old Bones Racing Stable, Balnikhov was second by a nose in the Singletary Stakes at Santa Anita on April 2, second in the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 7, and a disappointing fourth as the 3-5 favorite in the Cinema Stakes at Santa Anita on June 4.
D’Amato blamed himself for the loss in the Cinema Stakes, saying he ran Balnikhov back too soon after the Churchill Downs race and made a mistake of fitting the Irish-bred gelding with blinkers. The blinkers were gone for the Oceanside.
“We took the blinkers off and got him to settle,” D’Amato said.
Anmer Hall (29-1) finished second after racing in a stalking position for the first half-mile. Barsabas (55-1) disputed the pace through early fractions of 22.62 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.30 seconds for the half and held third.
Anmer Hall, trained by Peter Miller, had his third start and stakes debut in the Oceanside. Anmer Hall was third in an allowance race at six furlongs at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton on July 1 in his first start of the year. Anmer Hall, ridden by Ramon Vasquez, was within a half-length of stretch leader Barsabas with a furlong remaining.
“He ran great,” Miller said. “He needed the race. He wasn’t dead fit after one sprint at Pleasanton. I thought Ramon gave him a great ride.”
Mackinnon, the even-money favorite, finished fourth, beaten 2 3/4 lengths. Mackinnon, a two-time stakes winner who was third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf here last November, was well placed in early stretch, but failed to quicken.
Brit’s Wit finished fifth, and was followed by Dandy Warhol, Castle Leoch, St Anthony, Boise, Nero Tulip, As Amatter of Fact, Heaven Street, and Royal ‘n Rando.
Balnikhov, by the Kodiac stallion Adaay, has won 4 of 12 starts and earned $238,905. He was a three-time winner of minor races in France last year in a six-week period in November and December.