Big John B wins Del Mar Handicap for second time

DEL MAR, Calif. - A winter rest for Big John B led to a win in Saturday’s $250,750 Del Mar Handicap.

Closing from last in a field of eight, Big John B rallied four-wide entering the stretch and caught leader Ashleyluvssugar in the final strides to win the Grade 2 race at 1 3/8 miles on turf for the second consecutive year.

The Del Mar Handicap was Big John B’s fourth start, and richest win, of a 2015 campaign that began in late April. He did not start from late November of last year until April 25.

“I think giving him those months off made all the difference,” trainer Phil D’Amato said.

Big John B ($6.20) was timed in 2:16.37, finishing 1 1/2 lengths in front of Ashleyluvssugar, the 9-5 favorite. Ganesh (4-1) finished third, followed by Power Ped, Danas Best, Flamboyant, Lideris, and Little Jerry. The first three finishers led in the stretch.

Little Jerry, an 11-1 outsider, set the pace, through moderate fractions of 49.78 seconds for the first half-mile and six furlongs in 1:15.93. Little Jerry led on the turn, but was passed by Ganesh in early stretch.

Ashleyluvssugar, ridden by Gary Stevens for trainer Peter Eurton, closed well to pass Ganesh before the eighth pole. Through the final furlong, Ashleyluvssugar could not hold off Big John B, who was ridden by Rafael Bejarano.

“He was steady and he showed me a great kick,” Bejarano said.

D’Amato targeted the Del Mar Handicap in recent months, but feared during the race the modest pace would hinder Big John B.

“They were crawling up there,” he said. “When Rafael made that move wide, I was hoping that he wouldn’t flatten out at the end.”

Big John B, a 6-year-old gelding by Hard Spun, races for Michael House. The Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap gives Big John B an automatic berth for the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland on Oct. 31. Last November, Big John B was ninth in the BC Turf at Santa Anita. Big John B has won 14 of 34 starts and earned $717,175.

The win gave House victories in the two top turf races of the summer meeting. He co-owns Gabriel Charles, who won the $400,000 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf on July 18.

The BC Turf is also in the plans for Ashleyluvssugar, who won two Grade 2 turf races at Santa Anita earlier this year – the San Luis Rey Stakes in March and the Charles Whittingham Stakes in May. He nearly won a third Grade 2 race on Saturday.

“My voice is gone,” Eurton said. “I thought we had a good chance to win it.”