Birdlover cuts back in five-furlong Daisycutter
DEL MAR, Calif. – With six wins during the third week of the meet, including a record-setting five in one day, Doug O’Neill has surged to the top of the trainer standings at Del Mar, and he’ll hope his hot streak continues Friday, when Birdlover turns back in distance for the shortest race of her career in the $80,000 Daisycutter Handicap for older female turf sprinters.
Birdlover is a terror on Santa Anita’s downhill turf course, over which she is a two-time stakes winner going about 6 1/2 furlongs. The Daisycutter is far more abrupt, just five furlongs, and Birdlover will be cutting back severely after going one mile last time out in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine at Santa Anita.
“This is the first time she’s ever gone five furlongs,” O’Neill said. “That’s my only concern. It’s not an easy race, but at least there’s no Fanticolas in there.”
Fanticola won the Royal Heroine and is expected to be among the top contenders Saturday in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes.
:: DRF Bets Exotic Summer: Take out the takeout on Friday's pick five at Del Mar
Birdlover was eighth in the Royal Heroine, ending a streak of six straight finishes in the money, including four wins. Three of those wins came on Santa Anita’s downhill course.
“She’s a hard trier,” O’Neill said.
Birdlover will be the highweight at 124 pounds and faces eight rivals. She has to give one pound to Home Journey, whom she beat by a head May 22 in the Mizdirection at Santa Anita, and two pounds to the well-traveled Shrinking Violet, who won the Grade 2 Monrovia on Santa Anita’s downhill course in January.
Key contenders
Birdlover (Last 3 Beyers: 85-100-91)
* She has finished first or second in 11 of 18 starts, though this will be her first try over Del Mar’s turf.
* O’Neill said he has worked Birdlover aggressively.
“It’s something I remember hearing from Bobby Frankel, that you have to train sprinters a little harder than route horses because sprinters have to run hard gate to wire, while routers can get a breather during a race,” he said.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Birdlover. Trainer Doug O’Neill is 24-7-6-4 with a $3.45 ROI over the past five years in turf sprints at Del Mar. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Home Journey (Last 3 Beyers: 100-92-93)
* As with Birdlover, she is remarkably consistent, having finished first or second in nine of 13 starts, including her last four.
* She scored a front-running win over this course and distance last fall.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 9 Home Journey. Trainer Mike Puype is 20-4-4-2 with a $4.58 ROI over the past five years in turf sprints at Del Mar. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Shrinking Violet (Last 3 Beyers: 86-91-95)
* Typical of a Wesley Ward trainee, she ships everywhere and usually fires, with seven wins in 18 starts, including an allowance win here going five furlongs on turf in the summer of 2013.
* This will be the eighth track she has run at in her last eight starts. She most recently ran against males in the Grade 2 Highlander at Woodbine.