Del Mar: Mullins gets first juvenile win of meet with Gabriel Charles

DEL MAR, Calif. - Gabriel Charles on Saturday was trainer Jeff Mullins’s first 2-year-old winner of the meeting. Even with that distinction, he is not considered Mullins’s top prospect in the division.

Next Saturday in a maiden race, Mullins starts the highly regarded 2-year-old Dry Summer, who was fourth in his debut at Betfair Hollywood Park on July 1.

Complete coverage of racing at Del Mar: News, PPs, and video

Gabriel Charles, by Street Hero, ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.48 as a 7-2 shot, edging 6-5 favorite Den’s Legacy.

Gabriel Charles is not nominated for the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 5, and would have to be supplemented for $10,000 when entries are taken on Sept. 1. Mullins was in no hurry on Sunday to make a decision on the Del Mar Futurity, or on a stakes prep race such as the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 5.

“They’ve got their whole life to run,” he said. “The owners said take your time.”

Owned by Michael House and Sam Britt, Gabriel Charles was not nominated to the Del Mar Futurity by the June 1 deadline because the colt had not fully tipped his promise at that point, Mullins said.