Del Mar Handicap win puts Fashion Business on track for BC Turf

DEL MAR, Calif. – A bold move by jockey Flavien Prat in the final half-mile of Saturday’s Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap put Fashion Business in the winner’s circle of a stakes for the first time – and on schedule for a start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3.

Sensing a modest pace, Prat urged Fashion Business into contention approaching the final turn. Fashion Business quickly gained a four-length lead in early stretch and stayed clear to win by 5 1/4 lengths.

“I thought the pace was slow,” Prat said. “He has a good kick, but he takes forever to get going.

“I’m glad it worked out. I didn’t think anyone was making a move. I think it kind of surprised them.”

The winner of the $252,070 Del Mar Handicap received a fees paid berth to the BC Turf.

Fashion Business ($10.20) was the joint second choice in a field of 11. He ran 1 3/8 miles on turf in 2:13.84, earning a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 104. Ya Gotta Wanna, who won a $50,000 claiming race for maidens, rallied from the back of the field to finish second, giving trainer Phil D’Amato a sweep of the exacta.

Ya Gotta Wanna had a rough trip through the final half-mile. Ridden by Tiago Pereira, Ya Gotta Wanna was positioned on the inside on the turn behind fading runers before Pereira guided his mount to the outside.

“I waited and waited,” Pereira said. “I pulled to the outside and he responded. He ran a good race.”

Multiplier, the winner of the Grade 3 Illinois Derby in 2017, closed from ninth to finish third.

Colonist finished fourth, followed by Flamboyant, Ashleyluvssugar, Itsinthepost, Cashman, Unapologetic, and Kenjisstorm. Whoop Whoop, a 43-1 outsider, was pulled up in the stretch and was vanned off. Whoop Whoop was reported to have bled, according to track stewards.

The disappointment in the field was Itsinthepost, a seven-time Grade 2 winner since March 2017. The 5-2 favorite, Itsinthepost was second to Fashion Business on the turn, but faded through the stretch.

Fashion Business races for the Little Red Feather Racing partnership and Marsha Naify. The Del Mar Handicap was the 10th start in the United States for Fashion Business.

Last year, Fashion Business was second by a head in the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap here for 3-year-olds. Earlier this year, Fashion Business was fifth, beaten a length in the Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park on June 9 and eighth in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf here on July 22 in a race D’Amato said was a prep for the Del Mar Handicap.

Fashion Business has won 3 of 12 starts and earned $283,885.