Express Train holds off Tripoli for San Diego Handicap triumph
DEL MAR, Calif. - Express Train was an eager colt from the start of Saturday’s Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar.
A solid break gave Express Train a forward position near pacesetter Rushie on the backstretch and turn. When challengers loomed nearing the stretch, Express Train ($7.80) responded, holding off a late threat from 9-1 Tripoli to win the $250,000 San Diego by a half-length.
“He broke very sharp,” winning jockey Juan Hernandez said. “I think that was the key. He put himself right there.”
With the win, Express Train put himself firmly among the contenders for the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles on Aug. 21.
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Express Train was always within a half-length of the lead, following Rushie through early fractions of 22.97 for the opening quarter-mile, and 47.16 for a half-mile. Despite the pressure on the turn, Hernandez said Express Train was well within himself.
“I asked him to pick it up at the quarter-pole,” Hernandez said. “When he felt the other horses, he came back on.
“I kept him interested and he loved it.”
Tripoli, who had his stakes debut in the San Diego, ran a career-best race in the San Diego. Trained by John Sadler, Tripoli won two allowance races at Santa Anita in May and June.
Royal Ship was the 8-5 favorite in the San Diego. In his two previous starts, Royal Ship won the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita in April and was second by a head in the Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles on May 31.
In the San Diego, Royal Ship looked well positioned under Mike Smith behind Rushie, Express Train, and Mo Mosa with a quarter-mile remaining.
“When you go a mile and an eighth or a mile and a quarter, they keep coming steady,” Smith said. “I think it was a little short for him.
“I had him in a good spot. The rail opened and I went for it.”
Mo Mosa finished fourth, followed by Magic On Tap, Rushie, Sherriff Brown, and Kiss Today Goodbye.
The San Diego Handicap was Express Train’s second stakes win of the year, preceded by the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Jan. 30. Express Train was a game second by a half-length in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 6 and was later third in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap at Oaklawn Park in April and third in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita on May 31.
Those losses seemed distant after a game win in the San Diego. Express Train ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.37 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 101.
A 4-year-old colt by Union Rags, Express Train races for Lee and Susan Searing’s CRK Stables and trainer John Shirreffs. Express Train has won 4 of 12 starts and has earned $659,300.