Ex-claimer Big John B captures Del Mar Handicap

DEL MAR, Calif.- Since the start of his career in November 2011, Big John B has run in 16 claiming races at Aqueduct, Belmont, Churchill Downs, Gulfstream Park, Keeneland, and Monmouth Park. He was claimed in six of those races, most recently for $50,000 by Michael House at Keeneland in April.

Little could any of Big John B’s previous owners and trainers envisioned what the 6-year-old gelding has become this summer.

Saturday at Del Mar, Big John B won his stakes debut in the $201,250 Del Mar Handicap over 1 3/8 miles on turf. The victory gave Big John B a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 1 through the organization’s Win and You’re In program.

After the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap, House and trainer Phil D’Amato said the BC Turf is an autumn goal.

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“We’ll give it a shot,” D’Amato said.

Big John B was the 8-5 favorite in the Del Mar Handicap and had an ideal trip under Mike Smith to win by a convincing 5 1/4 lengths, in 2:12.81.

Smith had Big John B in sixth in a field of 10 for the first six furlongs, well behind the pace of 23.64 and 47.69 seconds shared by Bright Thought and Cogito. On the backstretch, Unbridled Command emerged from the pack with a clear lead, holding an advantage of 4 1/2 length after a mile.

Big John B was three-wide on the backstretch when Smith began urging his mount in pursuit of Unbridled Command.

“Mike said the horse was carrying him to each spot,” D’Amato said. “I thought he was going to swallow up that horse. It was a matter of pushing the button.”

Big John B took the lead entering the stretch and pulled away quickly. Bench Light, who was claimed for $40,000 at Santa Anita on May 31, closed from last on the backstretch to finish second.

“The two $40,000 claimers ran one-two,” said Mike Pender, who trains Bench Light. “That was a hell of a race. We got a little bottled up from the half-mile to the quarter-pole, but there was no way we would have beaten the winner.”

Bright Thought finished third, followed by Starspangled Heat, Unbridled Command, Poshsky, Si Sage, Fire With Fire, Topic, and Cogito. Topic, a 4-year-old filly, had a tough trip. Jockey Fernando Perez lost his irons when the filly’s saddle slipped with three furlongs remaining while racing at the back of the field.

Big John B has won four consecutive starts, a streak that coincides with him joining D’Amato’s stable. Big John B was claimed for $50,000 at Keeneland in April and later was promoted from second to first in a $40,000 claimer at Churchill Downs on May 26.

For D’Amato, Big John B won a starter handicap at Santa Anita on June 29, and an optional claimer here on July 30 that led to Saturday’s race.

Big John B has won 11 of 28 starts and earned $458,805.

“Every race he’s improved and his confidence is going through the roof right now,” D’Amato said.