Endlessly leads McCarthy exacta sweep of Del Mar Juvenile Turf
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DEL MAR, Calif. - Trainer Michael McCarthy was already in the midst of an outstanding afternoon at Del Mar on Sunday before Endlessly and Lord Bullingdon swept the exacta in the Grade 3 Del Mar Juvenile Turf at a mile.
Earlier in the day, the McCarthy-trained Sandy Bottom won her debut in a maiden race for 2-year-old fillies at 5 1/2 furlongs. A race later, the colt Formidable Man won his debut in a one-mile maiden race on turf for 2-year-olds.
Those runners are likely bound for stakes at the Santa Anita autumn meeting that begins on Sept. 29.
Endlessly and Lord Bullingdon are farther along in their careers, having started in maiden races earlier in the summer.
Endlessly, who won a maiden race at a mile on turf at Del Mar on July 30 in his first start, closed from sixth of eight to win the $101,500 Del Mar Juvenile Turf by 2 1/4 lengths over Lord Bullingdon, who was second by eight lengths to Prince of Monaco in his first start in a maiden race at Los Alamitos on July 9.
On Sunday, Endlessly, ridden by leading jockey Juan Hernandez, broke from post 7 and raced on the outside on the backstretch.
“I told Juan to break out of the gate and not get stuck too far outside on the first turn,” McCarthy said. “He looked like he was traveling comfortably.”
Hernandez urged Endlessly closer to the front on the turn and took the lead in early stretch.
“He took it to them early and he finished up nicely,” McCarthy said.
Endlessly ($7.60) was timed in 1:35.28 and earned a Beyer Figure of 72.
Lord Bullingdon (9-1) closed from fifth to be second at the wire, finishing a length in front of 11-10 favorite Boltage.
Andreadytorumble finished fourth, followed by Bear River, Glandford, Sea Singer and Des Doigts.
Des Doigts set an early quarter-mile fraction of 22.71 seconds, but was second to Bear River after a half-mile in 46.61. Bear River led into the stretch, but both of those runners faded from contention in the stretch.
Endlessly, by Oscar Performance, races for owners and breeders John and Jerry Amerman. Endlessly has earned $109,200 in his two wins.
McCarthy said Endlessly could return in the Grade 3 Zuma Beach Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 8 as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 3. The Zuma Beach could draw Lord Bullingdon and Formidable Man.
Sandy Bottom will be considered for the $85,000 Anoakia Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs at Santa Anita on Oct. 21, McCarthy said.
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