The Big Wam eyes Del Mar Futurity after Graduation Stakes win
DEL MAR, Calif. – His undergraduate work complete, The Big Wam is moving on to graduate work.
The Big Wam, eligible to California-bred races as he’s by a California-based sire, beat statebreds at Del Mar on Friday in the $126,000 Graduation Stakes, his second straight victory here in restricted races, and now is likely to face the best 2-year-olds in the West in the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Futurity on the meet’s closing day, Sept. 11.
“I’d like to go seven-eighths next time,” said his trainer, Luis Mendez, who won the Futurity two years ago with Dr. Schivel.
The Big Wam ($3.40), the favorite, was much the best Friday, the one-length margin of victory deceiving. The Big Wam broke out at the start and was bumped, got shuffled back, and was in front of only two of his seven rivals early in the race. He then moved sharply entering the far turn to rally in the four path, took aim at pacesetting Straighten Up after turning into the lane, and wore down that rival in the final furlong.
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Straighten Up was 5 1/4 lengths in front of third-place Good N Thirsty, then came, in order, Hacking It Up, Strength of Autism, Man Oh Man, Whobeterthantiger, and Early Release.
Smokem For You was scratched.
Juan Hernandez rode The Big Wam, who completed 5 1/2 furlongs on the fast main track in 1:04.59. Hernandez, the meet’s leading rider, has won six stakes. No other rider has more than two.
The Big Wam, by the Legacy Ranch-based stallion Mr. Big, has had an ambitious career. He debuted at Keeneland in April and finished second against maidens, then was second a week later in the Kentucky Juvenile at Churchill Downs.
“The owners wanted him to get experience. And Ship and Win,” Mendez said, referring to the popular program for horses who are brought in from other locales.
Owners Michael Bello and Charles Bartlett took full advantage of Ship and Win when The Big Wam made his California debut July 23 against California-bred maidens at Del Mar. He got up late under Hernandez going five furlongs, and his late-running style served him well again Friday. That’s one reason Mendez is keen to go out to seven furlongs for the Futurity.
“We know he likes the distance,” he said.
The Big Wam, out of the Foresty mare Magnetic, is listed as a Washington-bred. He earned $71,250 on Friday to bring his bankroll to more than $160,000.