Del Mar Derby long-range goal for Bowies Hero
ARCADIA, Calif. - To reach the winner’s circle of Saturday’s $81,725 Singletary Stakes at Santa Anita, Bowies Hero dragged his nose through the turf at the start and rallied past most of his nine rivals in the one-mile turf race.
The style of the win in Bowies Hero’s first start of the year has left trainer Phil D’Amato eager for the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 3, even if the $250,000 turf race is nearly four months off.
“The ultimate goal is the Del Mar Derby,” D’Amato said on Sunday. “I think 1 1/8 miles will fit him.”
Bowies Hero was a stakes winner at 2 at Del Mar last year – in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf – and was later 11th of 14 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf here last November. Bowies Hero was given the winter off, with D’Amato and owners Michael Martinez and Jeff Hebert focused on keeping the colt on turf. Bowies Hero was not nominated for the Triple Crown.
In the Singletary, Bowies Hero stumbled badly at the start, but recovered quickly under jockey Tiago Pereira. A 7-1 shot, Bowies Hero closed from ninth behind a quick pace to win by a half-length over 7-2 Bird Is the Word.
“It’s not the start you want,” D’Amato said on Saturday. “But when I saw those fractions, I didn’t worry. I thought he could come with a late kick.”
Bowies Hero has won 3 of 5 starts and earned $120,585. He began his career in Texas, where he won a maiden race at Lone Star Park last summer before joining D’Amato’s stable.
Bowies Hero could start in the $75,000 Rainbow Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf on June 10 before the Del Mar summer meeting. D’Amato said Bowies Hero may start twice at Del Mar, with races such as the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes on July 19 and the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap on Aug. 6 to be considered as preps for the Del Mar Derby.
“Maybe we’ll look at running in two of the three races at Del Mar,” D’Amato said.