Encumbered may find tough crowd in Juvenile Turf

DEL MAR, Calif. – Encumbered rallied from a deficit of more than seven lengths to win his turf debut in a maiden race at a mile at Del Mar on July 30. The experience could be invaluable.

Encumbered will need to be better if he is to come from off the pace in a full field in Sunday’s $100,000 Del Mar Juvenile Turf at a mile.

The Del Mar Juvenile Turf drew 16 entrants, including eight maidens, but will be limited to 14 starters. The big field could make for a tricky trip for a closer such as Encumbered, who races for Paul and Zillah Reddam and trainer Simon Callaghan.

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“It makes it tough going a mile,” Callaghan said.

Encumbered, Armour Plate, and Respect the Hustle are the only runners in the field with a victory at a mile on turf.

Armour Plate won a maiden race on turf at Santa Anita on July 1 and was seventh in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes on dirt on Aug. 12.

Bombardeo won his debut in a maiden race at five furlongs on turf Aug. 2. Cono and Take the One O One each won a maiden race on dirt and will start on turf for the first time Sunday.

The maiden Big Buzz had a slow start and finished a fast-closing fourth behind Respect the Hustle on Aug. 12. My Boy Jack, also a maiden, was second to Encumbered.

KEY CONTENDERS

Encumbered, by Violence
Beyers: 70-62

◗ Encumbered closed from fourth on July 30 to finish three-quarters of a length in front of My Boy Jack.

“It was a good trip and good performance,” Callaghan said. “He was getting more on top at the end of the race. He had to battle a little.”

◗ Encumbered was fourth in his debut at 5 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita on July 3 behind stablemate Run Away, the top contender for Monday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity.

Big Buzz, by Mr. Big
Beyer: 55

◗ Big Buzz was beaten two lengths by Respect the Hustle in his debut. Despite the loss, trainer Tim Yakteen and jockey Rafael Bejarano decided the Juvenile Turf was a suitable goal.

“Rafael and I both felt he would be competitive,” Yakteen said. “He’s continued to work well. Having the route race, the more experience you can take into a 2-year-old race it’s advantageous.”

Take the One O One, by Acclamation
Beyers: 70-70

◗ Take the One O One could be a pace factor. He led throughout a maiden race for California-breds at six furlongs on Aug. 6, drawing away to win by 3 1/4 lengths as the 6-5 favorite.