Conducted takes Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes on the front end

DEL MAR, Calif. – Conducted was unchallenged in Friday’s $201,500 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance for 2-year-old turf milers at Del Mar, and used that early advantage to a first stakes win.

Ridden by Hector Berrios, Conducted ($5.40) was allowed to set a relatively slow pace of 48.77 seconds for the first half-mile and six furlongs in 1:13.15, and essentially escaped with the race.

“When I passed the five-eighths and he was very comfortable, I thought, 'Oh, great,' ” Berrios said.

Conducted finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of 6-1 Proton, the winner of the $125,000 Laurel Futurity at 1 1/16 miles on turf in September. Proton, trained by Graham Motion, was second throughout the TAA Stakes.

“I don’t think we could have done anything different,” Motion said. “It seemed on paper there would be more speed and it didn’t materialize.”

Conducted was timed in 1:36.53 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 80.

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Plutarch, the 6-5 favorite, finished third, followed by Dr. Agne, Caro Buono, Migo, Itza Lock, and Italio.

Plutarch, trained by Bob Baffert for the Coolmore syndicate, was favored on the basis of a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Del Mar Juvenile Turf on Sept. 7, and a third by three-quarters of a length of the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes on dirt at Santa Anita on Oct. 4.

Plutarch closed from off the pace in those races. In the TAA Stakes, Plutarch was seventh of eighth for the first half-mile under jockey Flavien Prat.

“He made a nice move, but so did everyone else,” Prat said. “He needs pace.”

The stewards conducted a nine-minute inquiry regarding traffic and bumping issues involving Plutarch, Dr. Agne, and Caro Buono. The order of finish was not changed.

Conducted, a colt by Mendelssohn is trained by O.J. Jauregui, has won 2 of 4 starts and earned $159,600. The style of the win left trainer O.J. Jauregui pleasantly surprised.

“I thought they would challenge me,” Jauregui said. “I let Hector ride him the way he wanted. When I saw the half-mile, I was looking pretty good.”

Conducted races for Mike and Julia Iavarone, Danny Eplin and Arthur Spencer. The Iavarones bought a majority share of Conducted after the colt won a maiden race at a mile on turf by 6 1/4 lengths at Santa Anita on Oct. 4.

Conducted led throughout the maiden race.

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