Del Mar: Caracortado likely to stay near home

DEL MAR, Calif. - Caracortado may have an all-California campaign this fall, following his first graded stakes win in 18 months in Saturday’s $200,000 Del Mar Mile.

Co-owner and trainer Mike Machowsky said the $175,000 California Cup Classic, run on turf for the first time in October, and the Grade 1 Citation Handicap at Hollywood Park in late November are the primary goals in coming months. A start in a Breeders’ Cup race may wait until 2012, when the series is run at Santa Anita.

“The Breeders’ Cup is doubtful,” Machowsky said. “I want a fresh horse for next year.”

Caracortado, 4, closed from three lengths off the pace in the final furlong under jockey Joe Talamo to win the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile by a nose over the 3-year-old Mr. Commons. The win ended a five-race losing streak for Caracortado since the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Turf for California-breds and Florida-breds at Santa Anita in January.

During the losing streak, Caracortado lost the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile by a head at Santa Anita in March and the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile by a neck at Hollywood Park on July 2.

The California Cup Classic will be run over 1 1/8 miles on turf. In past years, the race was run on the main track and a one-mile stakes on turf was offered on the program. This year, with a smaller list of California Cup races, there is no Cal Cup Mile.

“I might wait for the California Cup,” Machowsky said of his plans. “We need to support that.”

Saturday, Caracortado ran the final quarter-mile in approximately 22 seconds to reach the front just in time.

“I didn’t realize how fast he came home,” Machowsky said. “It’s nice to get him back to a winning way.”

Caracortado, 4, has won 8 of 17 starts and $774,105 for Machowsky and co-owner Don Blahut.