Breeders' Cup Clocker: Smash It works, Japanese horses hit the track
?q=100)
Del Mar
Track: Fast
Weather: Clear
Temp: 55
DEL MAR, Calif. -- A couple of firsts during training hours Thursday at Del Mar. The first official local work for the 2024 Breeders’ Cup was recorded by trainer Todd Fincher’s Smash It for the Juvenile Turf Sprint. And perhaps of even more significance, there was the first sighting of the large Japanese contingent on hand for the event, 19 strong, the majority of, if not all, whom got their first feel for the local strip after being released from quarantine earlier this morning.
Smash It worked minutes after the renovation break, going in company with his lightly raced maiden mate Smartier. Smash It, runner-up making his turf and stakes debut earlier this month at Santa Anita in the Speakeasy, broke about a half-length in front, working nearest the rail, and maintained that advantage throughout, breezing four furlongs in 23.78, 47.27. He finished well within himself before galloping out five furlongs in 1:00.61 and easing up three-quarters in 1:14.69.
A pair of key contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Forever Young and Ushba Tesoro were the first of the Japanese horses to hit the track shortly before 9:00 a.m. They were joined a short while later by another Classic hopeful Derma Sotogake, who has gone off form since finishing second in the main event a year ago at Santa Anita. His rider had all he could handle trying to keep him from doing too much his first day on the track.
Among the other Japanese runners to stretch their legs, in one form or another, while at the same time getting accustomed to their new surroundings over the course of the next 30-45 minutes were Awesome Result (Distaff), Remake and Meta Max (Sprint), Ten Happy Rose (Mile), Rousham Park (Turf), Ecoro Azel (Juvenile), and Geoglyph (Mile).
Among the other Breeders’ Cup pre-entrants to train locally on Thursday were Senor Buscador and Mixto for the Classic; Bentornato and Raging Torrent (Sprint); Post Time, Mufasa and Katonah (Dirt Mile); Didia and Beach Bomb (Distaff); along with Howard Wolowitz and Dr Ruben M (Juvenile).
Senor Buscador is scheduled to have his final work for the Classic after the renovation break here Friday.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.