Big Fish runs them down in Del Mar Juvenile Turf

DEL MAR, Calif. – The 2-year-old gelding Big Fish is the latest stakes winner for the team of jockey Victor Espinoza and trainer David Hofmans, who had quite the successful partnership in the mid-2000s.

Hall of Famer Espinoza, 48, and Hofmans, 77, won graded stakes in those years with runners such as Adoration, Balance, and Greg’s Gold.

Big Fish has yet to run in a graded stakes, but could do so later this year after closing from off the pace to win Monday’s $102,500 Del Mar Juvenile Turf.

The race was the third occasion Espinoza has ridden for Hofmans this year, and their first winner together since Play Money won a maiden race at Del Mar last November.

Hofmans is well known for winning the 1996 Breeders’ Cup Classic with Alphabet Soup and the 1997 Belmont Stakes with Touch Gold. Big Fish was his first stakes win since Melatonin’s victory in the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita in 2016.

:: DRF's Del Mar headquarters – Stakes schedule, previews, recaps, past performances, and more

Big Fish was previously ridden by Umberto Rispoli, but the mount became available for the Juvenile Turf when Rispoli was named on Sonic Brees.

Big Fish ($11.40) closed from sixth in a field of 10 to win the Juvenile Turf by a length over 11-1 Ebeko.

Espinoza had Big Fish in third with a quarter-mile remaining and said he did not urge his mount until the stretch.

“I was just waiting to let him run,” Espinoza said. “I wasn’t worried about the ones in front of me. I had to worry about the ones coming from behind. I couldn’t see them.”

Big Fish, who races for Legacy Ranch, ran a mile on turf in 1:38.21. He earner a career-high Beyer Figure of 67.

Ebeko, who was last for the first half-mile, closed from seventh in the final furlong to finish a nose in front of Ambivalent, a 9-2 chance. Ambivalent, a maiden after four starts, finished third in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes on dirt on Aug. 8, but was disqualified and placed fourth for causing interference in the stretch.

In the Juvenile Turf, Ambivalent was second early, stalking pacesetter Get Her Number through early fractions of 24 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 49.32 for a half-mile.

Get Her Number held fourth, followed by Cotopaxi, Rombauer, None Above the Law, C’Mon Jenna, Herd Immunity, and Inner Ghost. Caisson, Inner Beauty and Sonic Brees were scratched on Sunday.

Big Fish, by Mr. Big, has won 2 of 4 starts and earned $109,000. He finished second and third in maiden special weight races on dirt at Santa Anita in June and here on July 12 before winning his turf debut in a maiden special weight race for California-breds at a mile here Aug. 21.

Big Fish was purchased for $45,000 at the 2019 Northern California yearling sale in Pleasanton and was the most expensive hip of that auction.