Encoder poised for star turn in Del Mar Juvenile Turf

DEL MAR, Calif. – Racing on turf – that part seemed obvious for Encoder. Being effective at five furlongs, perhaps that would be a bit abrupt for a son of English Channel. But off one race, it’s been pretty easy to decipher what Encoder is all about.

He’s one of the most-promising 2-year-old turf runners in California, and he’ll get a chance to prove it Sunday in the $100,000 Del Mar Juvenile Turf.

The one-mile race drew a field of seven, and it could be reduced if the filly Croughavouke – who was to be entered in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf on closing-day Monday – opts out. But with recent maiden winners Encoder, Billy Batts, and Hit the Road, plus a couple of European imports, the race is long on interest if short on numbers.

Encoder, representing the high-powered team of trainer John Sadler, owners Kosta and Pete Hronis, and jockey Flavien Prat, impressed in his lone start Aug. 7. Racing five furlongs, he closed from fifth in the field of nine and was powering away as he crossed the finish.

“Really pleased,” Sadler said of the debut. “He sat off the pace and had a nice kick. And it was against his pedigree, in that English Channels are not supposed to sprint. You’d project he’d be better routing, so we’re really excited to see his second start.”

Sadler thought Encoder had quality from the start.

“We always wanted to start him off on grass, because English Channels don’t really run on dirt,” Sadler said. “But he trained like he could run on dirt, and when they do that it usually bodes well that you have a good horse.”

Encoder got a Beyer Speed Figure of 70 for his start, equaling the high figure in the race earned by Raging Whiskey when sixth in the Best Pal. Raging Whiskey, by Bourbon Courage, is trying turf and two turns for the first time.

Billy Batts and Hit the Road each won a mile maiden race on turf here in their last start. Billy Batts shipped in from Ellis Park off a runner-up finish to subsequent Saratoga stakes winner Fighting Seabee. Hit the Road, by More Than Ready, was no factor in a dirt sprint debut at Santa Anita but, as his pedigree telegraphed, improved sharply on turf.

Commander arrives from France, where he won twice in three starts. In his three local works, “he’s been a solid, steady horse,” said his trainer, Phil D’Amato.

“He just does as much as you want him to do,” D’Amato said.

Croughavouke arrives from Ireland, where she won once in two starts.

“The scouting report was that she wasn’t much of a work horse by herself, and she’s proven that, so we’re going off what we saw in her races when we bought her,” trainer Jeff Mullins said.

Ardenlee Star won once in her two starts, both in Great Britain.

The Del Mar Juvenile Turf goes as race 3 on the 10-race card topped by the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby (race 9).