Enterprising proves fresh, fit and dangerous in Oceanside
DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer Tom Proctor decided earlier this year to give Enterprising a brief vacation and point for the summer at Del Mar. That itinerary sure paid dividends on Thursday, when Enterprising, making his first start in nearly three months, unleashed a furious closing rally to capture the $116,700 Oceanside Stakes, the opening-day feature.
Enterprising ($7.80) threw down a 22.65-second final quarter-mile – according to Trakus - in the one-mile grass race and went from last to first in the final quarter to get up and beat Argyle Cut by a neck, with Home School another 1 1/4 lengths back in third in the 11-horse field.
Mike Smith rode Enterprising, who was bred and is owned by the Glen Hill Farm of Leonard Lavin and his grandson Craig Bernick.
There was a disqualification in the race that did not impact the betting nor the purse distribution. Texas Ryano, originally eighth in the 11-horse field, was moved back to 10th when stewards ruled he interfered with Patriots Rule in upper stretch.
Enterprising was clear of all that, rallying outside all his rivals while completing one mile on firm turf in 1:33.89, a time revised from the original posting of 1:33.94.
Proctor said Enterprising “got a little freshening” before the Oceanside. Before that, he had finished in the money in six straight races, including stakes wins on the Santa Anita turf in the Eddie Logan last December and the Pasadena in March. Those two stakes, like the Oceanside, were at a mile.
Enterprising is by Elusive Quality out of the A.P. Indy mare Indy Blaze. He has now won four times in eight starts.
Proctor said he wasn’t sure whether he would bring Enterprising back in the Grade 2, $150,000 La Jolla Handicap on Aug. 10, or await the Grade 2, $300,000 Del Mar Derby on Aug. 31.
“Who knows?" Proctor said. "We’ll see. It looks like he’s got a shot. I’d kinda just like to enjoy this for today.”