Distinctiv Passion speed of Green Flash
DEL MAR, Calif. – A negative outcome is in store for any horse who tries to keep pace with the speedster Distinctiv Passion, the front-running favorite in the $80,000 Green Flash Handicap on Wednesday at Del Mar.
“He’s a very quick horse,” said his trainer, Jeff Bonde. “Anybody that goes with him pays the price.”
Distinctiv Passion meets a good field in the Green Flash, at five furlongs on turf, including Forest Chatter, Heir of Storm, Holy Lute, and Ankeny Hill. Inkling, an Australian import adding Lasix, was scheduled to ship Monday from Kentucky. His trainer, Wesley Ward, said that a second entrant, City of Vengeance, will not run.
The Green Flash centers on Distinctiv Passion, a 5-year-old who has crossed the wire first in 9 of 18 starts, including the Green Flash last summer. He won by a neck but was disqualified for interference and placed third. He has earned $459,660.
Distinctiv Passion drops out of the Grade 1 Bing Crosby. He set a fast pace, was done at the eighth pole, and finished last. That race was early in the meet, when horses and horsemen were learning to cope with a new dirt surface that was unusually tiring.
“Del Mar was a heavier surface,” Bonde said.
Final times were slow over the new surface, and Bonde believes it compromised Distinctiv Passion. On Wednesday, Distinctiv Passion switches to turf and shortens up to five furlongs. The turf rails are at 24 feet, and Distinctiv Passion could lead gate to wire as the program favorite.
Heir of Storm is likely to be positioned closest to Distinctiv Passion and would get first run if the pacesetter falters. Ankeny Hill is expected to be positioned third, while Forest Chatter, Holy Lute, Inkling, Boat Trip, and Bobby Z Man will rally from behind.
KEY CONTENDERS
Distinctiv Passion
(Last 3 Beyers: 93-99-101)
◗ Distinctiv Passion has won 4 of his last 5 outside graded company. He also has crossed the wire first in his last three on turf (disqualified once).
◗ The form of the race he exits, the Bing Crosby, is uncertain. Caminetto, who dueled with Distinctiv Passion, returned Sunday to lose an allowance by more than 10 lengths.
◗ Two of the 10 turf sprints this summer have been won by the pacesetter; six of 10 were won by a horse within one length of the lead at the first pace call. Jockey Edwin Maldonado seeks his first turf win of the meet when he rides Distinctiv Passion.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Distinctiv Passion. Trainer Jeff Bonde is 2-2-0-0 with a $5.10 ROI going dirt to turf at Del Mar with Distinctiv Passion; he's 14-0-4-1 over the past five years there going dirt to turf with other horses. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Forest Chatter
(Last 3 Beyers: 92-85-95
◗ A bad trip cost Forest Chatter last out when favored in an allowance turf sprint. He was shuffled back into the turn, lost position, weaved through traffic, and finished willingly.
◗ Forest Chatter’s four wins (eight starts) came racing 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf course at Santa Anita. Both of his turf-sprint losses were at Del Mar. The five-furlong distance might be shorter than he prefers.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Forest Chatter. Trainer Richard Mandella is 9-0-1-2 over the past five years in turf sprints at Del Mar. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Ankeny Hill
(Last 3 Beyers: 77-87-90)
◗ Though considered a notch below the top contenders, Ankeny Hill should run big in his first start since April. “We freshened him a little; he is training exceptionally well,” trainer Mark Glatt said.
◗ Ankeny Hill, formerly a kamikaze speedster, has changed his style. “He runs from a little off the pace now,” Glatt said. “He doesn’t have to be pushing on the front end. He could lay third behind [Distinctiv Passion and Heir of Storm].”
Inkling (No Beyers)
◗ Inkling won 2 of 6 in Australia. He shipped to the U.S. after bleeding. He has posted a series of sharp works at Keeneland.