Fashion Business may target John Henry Turf

DEL MAR, Calif. - Fashion Business is bound for the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3 after winning his first stakes in Saturday’s Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap.

Trainer Phil D’Amato’s job over the next two months is to prove that the upstart 4-year-old belongs in the richest grass race in the United States.

Fashion Business earned a fees-paid berth to the $4 million BC Turf at 1 1/2 miles with an eye-catching rally in the $252,070 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf. He earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure with the victory.

“That’s huge,” D’Amato said of earning the free trip.

“We punched our ticket. We’ll be 30-1.”

The Del Mar Handicap is not a highly rated prep for the BC Turf, compared to races such as the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park on Sept. 29 or the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris on Oct. 7.

D’Amato is planning one prep race for Fashion Business, with the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita on Sept. 30 as a leading possibility.

“It’s the most logical as of now,” D’Amato said. “We’ll look at everything and see if we stay here.”

In the Del Mar Handicap, Fashion Business ($10.20) was ridden by Flavien Prat, who took control of the race with more than three furlongs remaining. With a wide rally, Prat urged Fashion Business to the front from a stalking position. Fashion Business was clear of his 10 rivals on the turn, led by four lengths with a furlong to go, and won by 5 1/4 lengths.

“He moved at the half-mile pole,” D’Amato said. “I thought, ‘We’ll see what he’s made of.’ He kept opening up. I felt comfortable at the eighth pole.”

The Del Mar Handicap was the longest race of Fashion Business’s career. He has won 3 of 12 starts.

“Flavien said that when they came to him in the gallop-out he pulled away again,” D’Amato said. “I don’t think distance will be a problem.”

Fashion Business races for the Little Red Feather Racing partnership and Marsha Naify. A 4-year-old British-bred gelding by Frankel, Fashion Business may turn out to be the only Del Mar Handicap runner in the BC Turf field.

Itsinthepost, who has won seven Grade 2 races in the last 17 months, faded to finish seventh of 11 as the 5-2 favorite. The 6-year-old gelding was seventh in the 2017 BC Turf at Del Mar, but may be rested this fall.

“We’ll let him regroup,” trainer Jeff Mullins said. “He’s been a warrior for two years.”

Ashleyluvssugar, who won the 2016 Del Mar Handicap and was fifth in the 2016 BC Turf at Santa Anita, may start in the John Henry, trainer Peter Eurton said. Ashleyluvssugar raced in traffic on the turn under jockey Joel Rosario and finished seven lengths behind Fashion Business.

“He got off the horse and said I messed up,” Eurton said of Rosario. “I think I could have been second.”