In Del Mar 'Cap, Hunt passes distance test for Breeders' Cup

DEL MAR, Calif. – Hunt was still on the racetrack following a win in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap on Saturday when trainer Phil D’Amato’s thoughts turned to the Breeders’ Cup Turf on the same turf course on Nov. 4.

D’Amato met winning jockey Flavien Prat on the track for a report on how Hunt felt in the longest race of his career, at 1 3/8 miles on turf. The distance was a test of stamina, especially in advance of the BC Turf at 1 1/2 miles.

“I quizzed him and he said an extra eighth of a mile wouldn’t hurt him,” D’Amato said. “Hunt responded nicely when he asked him. They were walking and he was relaxed. I like the way he settled.”

Hunt’s career has been defined by the Del Mar summer meeting. A 5-year-old gelding owned by Michael House, Hunt won his first graded stakes in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on July 22. Hunt earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Turf with his win in the $252,760 Del Mar Handicap.

As recently as last fall, Hunt was racing in turf sprints.

“Those are fun horses, the ones that reinvent themselves,” D’Amato said.

Hunt finished three-quarters of a length in front of Itsinthepost, the 5-2 favorite in the field of 13. Itsinthepost was in traffic on the final turn and showed a remarkable rally to produce a close finish under jockey Tyler Baze.

Itsinthepost is winless in eight career starts at Del Mar. The Del Mar Handicap was shorter than his ideal trip of 1 1/2 miles, according to trainer Jeff Mullins.

“He puts himself in a better spot going a mile and a half,” Mullins said. “For some reason, he puts himself in trouble here. We’ll see how he comes out of it and go from there.”

Itsinthepost won consecutive Grade 2 races at 1 1/2 miles on turf earlier this year – the San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita and the Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland.