Enterprising seeks sweep of turf series

DEL MAR, Calif. – Enterprising, the winner of the Oceanside Stakes and the Grade 3 La Jolla earlier this meet, seeks a sweep of this track’s grass stakes for 3-year-olds when he heads a field of eight in the Grade 2, $300,000 Del Mar Derby on Sunday.

Enterprising was freshened earlier this year by trainer Tom Proctor and pointed for this meet. So far, so good. Enterprising returned from a layoff of nearly three months to take the one-mile Oceanside on opening day, then won going 1 1/16 miles in the La Jolla on Aug. 9.

If he can add the 1 1/8-mile Del Mar Derby, Enterprising would be the first horse to sweep the series since Blackdoun in 2004. Blackdoun won a split division of the Oceanside. The last horse to win all three races when there was no Oceanside split was Lightning Mandate in 1974, but both the Oceanside and La Jolla were not moved to the turf until 1975, so Enterprising would be the first horse to win all three races in their current format – all turf.

Mike Smith, who has ridden Enterprising in both the Oceanside and La Jolla, is back aboard.

Enterprising’s rivals include Flamboyant, third in the Belmont Derby in his last start; the pacesetting Midnight Storm; stakes winner Home Run Kitten; and French invaders Aventador and Talco.

Sawyer’s Hill, a two-time winner over this course, and Sammy Mandeville, third in the La Jolla, round out a competitive field.

KEY CONTENDERS

ENTERPRISING (Last 3 Beyers: 94-93-86)

◗ He loves the course and is in the best form of his career but needs to finally prove he can handle 1 1/8 miles. In both of his prior tries at the distance, once on synthetic, once on turf, he finished third.

◗ Enterprising possesses a devastating turn of foot. His closing rush in the La Jolla was breathtaking.

◗ Smith, aboard for his last two races, has gotten him to drop farther off the pace, and as a result, his closing rush has been enhanced.

FLAMBOYANT (Last 3 Beyers: 88-91-90)

◗ Has run well in all three of his starts in this country since arriving from France.

◗ Joel Rosario, who rode him in New York in his last two starts, is making the cross-country trip for his lone Del Mar appearance this summer.

◗ He exits a third-place finish in Belmont Derby, a race whose form has held up. Runner-up Adelaide won the Secretariat, and sixth-place Toast of New York was second in the Pacific Classic. “And Rosario said he kind of clipped heels at the eighth pole,” said Paddy Gallagher, who trains Flamboyant.

◗ Gallagher said the decision was made to simply await this race rather than prep in the La Jolla because he “thought those races were a little close.”

◗ He beat both Home Run Kitten and Enterprising in the 1 1/8-mile La Puente at Santa Anita in April.

HOME RUN KITTEN (Last 3 Beyers: 92-88-89)

◗ Was freshened for this race after winning two straight at Santa Anita, including the Singletary on June 21.

◗ Split Flamboyant and Enterprising when second in the La Puente in April.

MIDNIGHT STORM (Last 3 Beyers: 88-69-83)

◗ Ran the best race of his life in his turf debut when winning a first-level allowance Aug. 10. That was his first start after being transferred to trainer Phil D’Amato, who said he thought Midnight Storm ran well for a speed horse over a course that did not seem to flatter that style.