Big John B likely to go in Del Mar Handicap

DEL MAR, Calif. – Big John B won his first stakes on dirt in Friday’s $100,000 Cougar II Handicap at 1 1/2 miles at Del Mar. The race is likely to have been a one-time surface change and not a new direction in the career of the 6-year-old gelding.

Trainer Phil D’Amato said on Saturday that Big John B will run Aug. 22, with the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf likely to be preferred over the $1 million Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles on dirt.

“I’m leaning toward the Del Mar Handicap,” he said. “I think that’s the most sensible approach.”

D’Amato and owner Michael House took a bit of a gamble by starting Big John B in the Cougar II Handicap on dirt. In his first 32 starts, all 12 of Big John B’s wins were on turf.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Big John B saved ground throughout the Cougar II Handicap and closed on the rail on the turn to take the lead.

Bailoutbobby, a 12-1 outsider, rallied to challenge in the stretch but could not get any closer than a half-length to Big John B at the finish.

“Rafael was impressed with how game he was and how he came up the inside,” D’Amato said.

Big John B ($8.40) was timed in 2:31.62. The Cougar II was his second stakes win in the last year. Big John B won the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf here last August. By Hard Spun, Big John B has won 13 of 33 starts and earned $576,175.

Charity events raise $80,000

A charity poker tournament and silent auction held at a Del Mar hotel July 18 raised more than $80,000 for the California Retirement Management Account for retired racehorses, the organization announced in a statement last week.

Revenue from the fundraiser will be distributed to facilities that care for retired Thoroughbreds and request grants from CARMA each fall. The organization will announce its distributions at the end of the year.

At the July 18 fundraiser, Elizabeth Ellis, daughter of trainer Ron Ellis and the fiancé of jockey Joe Talamo, won the Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournament.

◗ Trainer Mark Glatt was fined $500 by track stewards on Friday after the maiden claimer Fashioned Gem was erroneously administered the tranquilizer acepromazine, resulting in a scratch from Friday’s first race, according to steward Kim Sawyer. A ruling on the matter was issued by stewards Friday. Fashioned Gem lost her only start, at Santa Anita in June, and was a 6-1 shot on the morning line Friday.