D'Amato goes to his bench for Del Mar Mile
The top turf miler in California will stay in the barn Saturday at Del Mar, but the absence of Count Again from the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile might not prevent trainer Phil D’Amato from winning the $300,000 race anyway.
Hong Kong Harry and Cathkin Peak, able replacements who are less accomplished than Count Again, will represent D’Amato in the Del Mar Mile while the trainer extends the vacation of his two-time Grade 1 winner.
Count Again “needs a little more time for me to get him where he needs to be,” D’Amato said. Specifics were not offered. Count Again earned a Breeders’ Cup Mile berth by winning the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on May 30 at Santa Anita. D’Amato said Count Again could run in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile on Oct. 1 at Santa Anita, “or just wait to the Breeders’ Cup.”
Trainer John Shirreffs also had Del Mar Mile plans with Beyond Brilliant, winner of the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby and Grade 2 Charles Whittingham. Beyond Brilliant would have been a Del Mar Mile contender until a morning mishap early this week.
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Beyond Brilliant was jogging Tuesday at Del Mar when a horse going in the opposite direction spooked Beyond Brilliant. He propped, wheeled, and wrenched an ankle that was filled on Wednesday. He was not entered in the race.
“I’m not chancing that he might be okay by Saturday,” Shirreffs said via text.
Instead, comebacker Astronaut will represent Shirreffs in the Del Mar Mile. Unraced since November, Astronaut won the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap a year ago and prefers farther than a mile. The race on Saturday is merely a comeback prep.
“He is coming back at a distance shorter than he usually runs, I thought this will be a good start for him to get ready for a longer race,” Shirreffs said.
Ten entered the race-7 Del Mar Mile, including last-out Wickerr Stakes winner Irideo, speedster Goliad, Grade 2 winner None Above the Law, and Tripoli, last year’s Grade 1 Pacific Classic winner who recovered from a virus that contributed to his recent subpar effort. Other entrants include Air Force Red, Tarantino, and Figureti.
Hong Kong Harry and Cathkin Peak finished two-three last out in the Grade 2 Eddie Read.
“Both got wiped out at the start and kind of lost position.” D’Amato said.” Hong Kong Harry’s trouble was less severe than Cathkin Peak, who steadied into the first turn, was blocked on the far turn, and finished only a half-length behind Hong Kong Harry.
Flavien Prat will ride Grade 3 winner Hong Kong Harry. Umberto Rispoli rides Grade 1-placed Cathkin Peak.
Goliad attempts an ambitious hike from entry-level allowance to a Grade 2 following a display of raw speed in a turf mile. He smoked a half-mile in 44.89 seconds, six furlongs in 1:08.73, and finished in 1:33.29, fastest mile of the meet. Richard Mandella trains Goliad, who has a longshot chance to wire the field under Juan Hernandez.