D'Amato has six shots at breaking his mark

DEL MAR, Calif. – Phil D’Amato has three weekends to surpass a personal best of five stakes wins at a Del Mar summer meeting, set last year.

D’Amato has five stakes wins already this meet and will have six chances to add to his total this weekend.

Big John B, Hunt, and Up With the Birds are scheduled to start for D’Amato in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap on Saturday, the same day Kenda runs in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks for 3-year-old fillies. Sunday, Midnight Storm and Vyjack are expected to run in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on turf.

“I like my chances in the Handicap and the Mile,” he said. “We’re taking a shot with my filly in the Oaks.”

Both Midnight Storm and Vyjack worked five furlongs on the dirt Monday morning at Del Mar. Vyjack went after the first renovation break and was timed in 1:01.20. Midnight Storm went after the second of the three renovation breaks and was timed in 1:02.20.

:: Just reduced! Save on Clocker Reports for Del Mar and Saratoga

D’Amato tops the trainer standings at the meeting, which runs through Sept. 4. Through Sunday, D’Amato had 11 wins, one more than Doug O’Neill. Last summer, D’Amato won the training title with 23 wins, two more than runner-up Peter Miller.

Of this weekend’s runners, Midnight Storm bridges the two seasons. Last year, Midnight Storm won the Grade 2 Eddie Read and the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile. Midnight Storm was held out of the Eddie Read this year, but Hunt won the race for the D’Amato team.

At 1 1/8 miles, the Eddie Read equaled the longest race of Hunt’s career. The $200,000 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf will be a greater test of stamina. There were clues after the Eddie Read that Hunt can handle a longer distance.

“When he came back, he wasn’t blowing at all,” D’Amato said. “He’s got tactical speed. I don’t think an extra quarter-mile will make a difference.”

Hunt and Big John B are owned by Michael House. Hunt is a 5-year-old gelding, while Big John B is an 8-year-old gelding who will have his 45th start Saturday. Big John B won the 2015 Del Mar Handicap and the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Santa Anita in April, but is winless in his last four starts.

Big John B was sixth of seven in the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap at 1 1/2 miles on dirt here July 26. D’Amato said he didn’t like the track.

“We haven’t given up on him just yet,” D’Amato said. “He’s been more consistent on the grass. He was so far out of it on this track. It’s so demanding.”

The 7-year-old Up With the Birds was fifth in the Eddie Read, a race that was too short for him, D’Amato said.

“The extra quarter-mile will help,” he said. “I think it’s taken me a little while to figure out his quirks. He’s an older horse. He likes to be trained easier to keep him fresh. He doesn’t like to train hard.”

Up With the Birds joined D’Amato’s stable last winter and is winless in three starts in California.

The winner of the Del Mar Handicap receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf here Nov. 4. That race will be a massive jump in class for any of the D’Amato-trained runners or the other probable starters in the race – Ashleyluvssugar, Flamboyant, Hard Aces, He Will, Inordinate, Itsinthepost, Monster Bea, and Prime Attraction.

“It’s in their own backyard this year,” D’Amato said. “If they like the turf course, it’s a huge advantage.”

Ashleyluvssugar won the 2016 Del Mar Handicap and was fifth in the BC Turf at Santa Anita last November. Big John B was 10th in the 2015 BC Turf at Keeneland.

“He hated the turf course at Keeneland,” D’Amato said.

– additional reporting by Jay Privman