Conclude shows he can go the distance, takes Del Mar Derby
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DEL MAR, Calif. - Allowed to be part of a slow pace, Conclude had no difficultly winning the longest race of his career in Sunday’s Grade 2 Del Mar Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar.
Conclude had won stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs and at a mile earlier this year, leading to concern that the $302,000 Del Mar Derby distance could be an issue for the colt.
With a half-mile fraction in 47.40 seconds and six furlongs in 1:12.20, Conclude led by as many as three lengths and held off a late run from 5-1 Maltese Falcon to win by a head.
Sent off favored, Conclude ($4.20) was timed in 1:48.61 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 88.
“He had enough to hold off a nice horse in Maltese Falcon,” winning trainer Phil D’Amato said. “The six furlongs in 1:12 and having a couple of lengths - all that equated to a win today.”
Conclude chased 46-1 Justin’s Legacy through an opening quarter-mile in 23.91 seconds before taking the lead for the rest of the race under jockey Hector Berrios.
“The pace was slow,” Berrios said. “He was comfortable.”
Maltese Falcon, the winner of the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf on Aug. 6, closed from sixth in a field of nine to threaten Conclude.
“It was a tough beat,” said Leonard Powell, who trains Maltese Falcon. “I wish there would have been more pressure. It could have made a difference."
Conclude “is a good horse and so is ours.”
Almendares, also trained by D’Amato, closed from fifth on the backstretch to finish third at 3-1 in his stakes debut.
Panic Alarm finished fourth, followed by Smart Code, Kid Azteca, Justin’s Legacy, Reiquist and Ah Jeez.
Conclude, a colt by Collected, has won 4 of 6 starts and earned $359,600. He won the Desert Code Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on May 21, and his first start around two turns in the Oceanside Stakes at a mile here on July 21.
“This is the sort of horse that could develop into a Breeders’ Cup Mile horse next year,” D’Amato said.
Conclude was the third graded stakes win on turf for D’Amato on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, D’Amato won the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap with Gold Phoenix, and the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap with Motorious.
Conclude is co-owned by Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stable, and Brereton Jones. Little Red Feather Racing co-owns Gold Phoenix.
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