Del Mar notes: Know More drops into Friday allowance
DEL MAR, Calif. - Know More won the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes in his career debut at the 2012 Del Mar meeting. This year, any kind of win will do for the 3-year-old colt.
Winless in his last seven starts, Know More was scratched from the first division of Wednesday’s Oceanside Stakes in favor of an optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles on turf in Friday’s sixth race.
“The Oceanside is tough,” trainer Doug O’Neill said. “I think we’ve found a softer spot, although Friday is not easy.”
[DEL MAR 2013: Complete meet coverage, schedule, race replays]
Owned by Paul and Zillah Reddam, Know More was second in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity last summer. He was second in two sprints at Hollywood Park earlier this year, his only starts of 2013.
“I think last year he was very precocious,” O’Neill said. “He needed a break. I’ve been happy with his two comeback races.”
In Friday’s race, Know More must beat Pure Loyalty, a game second in the Tsunami Slew Stakes at Hollywood Park on June 23, and Surfcup, the winner of the Silky Sullivan Stakes for California-bred 3-year-olds at Golden Gate Fields on June 9.
Horse owner, fan Accardy dies
Pete Accardy, a longtime horse owner and Del Mar resident who was an elite swim coach at California State University, Northridge, died on Saturday from kidney cancer. He was 72.
Accardy moved to Del Mar 20 years ago after retiring from a celebrated collegiate coaching career during which his Northridge teams won 13 NCAA Division II titles, 9 with the men’s team, 4 with the women’s team.
His reason for moving to Del Mar was for his love of racing. Accardy had a box near the finish line for the race meet, and was a regular at the Surfside simulcast facility. He also owned horses that were trained by Paul Aguirre.
A celebration of Accardy’s life will be held at the track during the meet, but as of Wednesday no firm date had been set. Accardy is survived by his wife, Barbara, a son, Lee, and two grandsons.
- additional reporting by Jay Privman