Del Mar: Up In Time uses strong stretch run to take San Clemente at 11-1

DEL MAR, Calif. -- British transplant Simon Callaghan got his first Del Mar stakes winner in the most memorable way on Sunday as he sent out Up In Time for an 11-1 upset in the Grade 2, $150,000 San Clemente Handicap for 3-year-old turf fillies.

Up In Time ($25.40) gave Rafael Bejarano, the meet’s leading rider, his third winner on the card. Bejarano also won the earlier California Dreamin’ Handicap with Norvsky.

As he did with Norvsky, Bejarano took his mount well off the pace and then made one, sustained run to get the win. Up In Time was fifth in the 10-horse field midway through the race, then closed like a shot to catch pacesetting Mizdirection and win by 1 1/4 lengths.

Celestial Kitten finished 2 1/4 lengths behind Mizdirection in third.

Sarah’s Secret, unbeaten in four starts prior to the San Clemente, faded after a wide, pace-pressing trip and wound up sixth. Sarah’s Secret and Mizdirection both closed at 9-5, but Mizdirection had slightly more money bet to win on her, so she was the actual favorite.

Up In Time completed one mile on firm turf in 1:34.66.

This is the second summer Callaghan has spent at Del Mar. Last year, he was plagued by seconditis. Even his top runner, Dubawi Heights, fell victim to that rough summer, with a horrible trip in her United States debut. Since then, she has gone right up the ladder.

Up In Time, like Callaghan a British import, had won once in four prior starts in this country. She most recently was fifth to Sarah’s Secret in the Honeymoon Handicap at Hollywood Park on June 11.

Callaghan credited the San Clemente victory to Bejarano being able to get Up In Time to sit and finish.

“She was relaxed and in the right position,” he said. “Getting her relaxed was the key, big-time.”