Dr. Schivel gives trainer Mendez first Grade 1 win in Del Mar Futurity

DEL MAR, Calif. – Dr. Schivel had the cure for any lingering summertime blues on closing day of the Del Mar season Monday, bringing smiles to a whole bunch of people by capturing the Grade 1, $250,500 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity.

It was the first Grade 1 victory for trainer Luis Mendez, who was understandably proud of his accomplishment. So too was trainer Mark Glatt, for whom the colt will race going forward, that because Glatt recommended his private purchase to a partnership that includes his client Tim Cohen, who got a quick return on investment.

Dr. Schivel provided Flavien Prat with his second win of the day, breaking a tie with Umberto Rispoli and securing for Prat the title as the meet’s leading jockey. And bettors who made him the favorite went home happy, too.

It was just what Dr. Schivel ordered.

Dr. Schivel ($4.80), starting from the outside in a field of six, attended the pace while three paths wide, put away pace rivals Spielberg and Weston in upper stretch, and proved best, defeating Spielberg by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:24.16 for seven furlongs on the fast main track. Weston was another 3 3/4 lengths back in third, then came, in order, Scooby, Dyn O Mite, and Dixie’s Two Stents.

Dr. Schivel, by Violence, had finished third in his debut at Santa Anita, then second at Los Alamitos, before finally beating maidens here Aug. 8. The manner in which he won that day – his Beyer Speed Figure and raw time were both far faster for six furlongs than of Weston in the Grade 2 Best Pal the same day – was the final push Cohen needed after repeated prodding for weeks by Glatt.

Cohen, who races as Rancho Temescal, put together a partnership that included his father Jed’s Red Baron’s Barn, as well as Dean Reeves, to make a bid. Bill Branch, one of the co-breeders and original co-owners of Dr. Schivel, stayed in, but Arnold Hill, the other co-breeder and co-owner, sold his percentage.

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All agreed to leave the colt with Mendez through the Futurity.

“I’m really proud of myself and my team,” Mendez said of his first Grade 1 win. “Hopefully, it’s not my last.”

Glatt had been urging Tim Cohen to try and buy the colt, as he knew he was for sale for the right price.

“After his maiden win, we kind of got the picture,” Cohen said. “Bill Branch was kind enough to let us in.”

Glatt stood off to the side and watched proceedings, graciously allowing Mendez to have his moment. He later debriefed Prat, whom the Cohens often ride and whom they insisted on using after Juan Hernandez was aboard for the maiden win.

Now Dr. Schivel goes to Glatt’s barn, and he’ll be the one mapping out his future.

Dr. Schivel has now won twice in four starts. He earned $150,000 on Monday, putting a dent in the amount of money it took to make the private purchase. Plus, his residual value went up immediately, now being a Grade 1-winning son of Violence.

That’s a winning prescription.