Drizzy tops solid Machowsky trio for Graduation Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Drizzy, Schulace, and Utah Ute form a solid team of contenders in Sunday’s $100,000 Graduation Stakes for owner and breeder Richard Barton and trainer Mike Machowsky. This is a deep position for the six-furlong stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds that Machowsky did not envision having by the first weekend of August.

The three geldings are by stallions who excelled at longer distances in their racing careers. Schulace and Utah Ute are by first-year stallion Champ Pegasus, who was a multiple stakes winner in turf marathons. Drizzy is by English Channel, who was the 2007 champion turf male after winning the Breeders’ Cup Turf at 1 1/2 miles at Monmouth Park.

Drizzy may have the best chance, Machowsky said on Thursday. Drizzy won his debut in a maiden race for California-breds at 4 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita on May 20, drawing off to win by 5 1/2 lengths. Machowsky said he was delighted by the result.

“I told Dick Barton, ‘He’s training good, but he’ll need to go farther,’” Machowsky said.

Drizzy earned a brief rest after the maiden win and has caught Machowsky’s attention since being transferred to Del Mar last month.

“I backed off of him,” Machowsky said. “He got a little wound up, but his last few works have been good.”

Schulace is the only one of those Machowsky-trained runner with stakes experience, having finished second by 1 3/4 lengths to the filly Kimberlea K in the Everett Nevin Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at the Oak Tree at Pleasanton on July 8. Kimberlea K was second in the CTBA Stakes for fillies at Del Mar on Wednesday.

Joe Talamo, who rides Drizzy on Sunday, told Machowsky that Schulace struggled on the Pleasanton surface.

“Joe said he was spinning his wheels from the get-go,” Machowsky said. “The race may be better than it looked. The filly is nice.”

Utah Ute was third to Graduation starter Cono in a maiden race for California-breds at Santa Anita on June 16 and won a similar race at Los Alamitos on July 13.

“He’s coming back a little quicker than I want, but it’s $100,000,” Machowsky said.

The Graduation Stakes drew a field of 11. Sir Valentine, fifth in the Santa Anita Juvenile on July 3, may be a danger from the rail with the addition of blinkers.

Smokem is trained by Gary Sherlock, who won the CTBA Stakes. Smokem won his debut in a maiden race for California-breds here on July 21, beating Continental Divide, who was bought for $245,000 at the Barretts May sale of 2-year-olds in training.

Continental Divide was supplemented to the Graduation Stakes for $1,500.