Del Mar: Wild Rose tries again at same level, distance

DEL MAR, Calif. – Wild Rose was 10-1 in a six-horse field when she made her first start in this country in June at Hollywood Park. That’s far from the obvious when it comes to a horse worth claiming, but Jack Carava, who trains privately for La Canada Stables, thought she had some merit and took a chance on the British filly, dropping in a claim slip. So, too, did someone else.

“I thought it was kind of an off-the-wall claim and couldn’t believe I had to shake for her,” Carava said Tuesday morning at Del Mar. “Her turf form in Europe wasn’t any good, but her Polytrack races were good. I thought she might like Del Mar, so we took her.”

Wild Rose ran second that day and two starts later, found herself at Del Mar, where she proved Carava’s theory correct. Wild Rose won an optional claiming race at one mile on Aug. 7, and Carava is bringing her right back against the same group, and at the same distance, in Thursday’s featured seventh race at Del Mar.

“It’s the same bunch,” Carava said. “The pots here are high, so we’ll leave her right where she’s at.”

Seven are entered in Thursday’s race, including Hopeful Union and Ambitoness, who finished second and third, respectively, to Wild Rose last time out. Wild Rose and Ambitoness are entered for a $40,000 claiming price, while the other five are using their first-level allowance condition.

Wild Rose rallied from eighth in a nine-horse field to win last time out while using Lasix for the first time. It was her fifth win in 10 starts on a synthetic surface. Garrett Gomez rode her that day, but he is sticking with Capital Plan, whom Gomez rode to victory in a maiden race Aug. 4. Carava is reuniting Wild Rose with Joel Rosario, who was aboard when Wild Rose faded to finish last in a four-horse field at Hollywood on July 15.

“She was just too close to the pace, but that was the profile there on a Friday night,” Carava said. “When we took her back last time, she was more effective.”

Capital Plan is lightly raced and earned her maiden win in her first start on Polytrack following two races on turf for trainer Tom Proctor. She was subsequently purchased privately and on Thursday makes her first start for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

Hopeful Union has been stuck at this allowance level for eight starts, since winning her debut in February 2010, and has finished second four times, including her last two races.

Hakuchi faded late to finish fourth behind Wild Rose after going too fast too soon Aug. 7. She now switches to jockey Mike Smith.