First Peace needs to settle in Del Mar Mile

When First Peace settled behind a fast early pace in the restricted Wickerr Stakes at a mile on July 21 at Del Mar, trainer Mark Glatt saw an aspect of the 4-year-old colt missing earlier in his career.

First Peace was a patient colt, a style that led to his first stakes win that day.

The same composed effort will be necessary when First Peace starts in Saturday’s Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on turf. This time, First Peace may set the pace in a field of 10 that lacks a confirmed front-runner.

First Peace won from the front earlier in his career, and Glatt said a forward style can work in the $300,000 Del Mar Mile.

“So long as he’s not pulling hard,” Glatt said. “That’s the key.”

First Peace, who races for Rancho Temescal, Rodney Orr, and Little Red Baron’s Barn, is in the midst of his best season. Glatt credits maturity.

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“When we tried him at a mile earlier in his career, he was pretty headstrong,” Glatt said. “He’s learned, as he’s gotten older, to relax much, much more. That was the key to him running so well at a mile, especially with a strong setup.”

First Peace is one of eight stakes winners in the Del Mar Mile, along with Astronomer, Conclude, Du Jour, Exaulted, Flashiest, Irideo, and Lammas. The stakes-placed geldings Almendares and Halfway Line are the other runners.

The race is missing Johannes, a three-time stakes winner this year who is scheduled to make his next start in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile on Sept. 28 at Santa Anita.

Arguments can be made on behalf of several entrants in the Del Mar Mile, particularly Du Jour, winner of the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita in March but beaten in his last two starts; Astronomer, who was second in the Wickerr; Lammas, winner of the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields in April; and Halfway Line, sharp winner of an allowance race July 27 at Del Mar.

Du Jour won the 2023 Del Mar Mile and has fantastic credentials at the distance. Aside from the victory in the Kilroe Mile, Du Jour was a fast-closing third behind Johannes in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita in May. He faded from contention when sixth behind Johannes in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf July 28 at Del Mar. In the Read he was racing beyond a mile for the first time in nearly three years.

A quick pace Saturday will help a closer such as Du Jour.

Astronomer, a stakes winner at 2 at Del Mar in 2021, closed from fifth to finish second by 1 1/2 lengths in the Wickerr. From an inside post Saturday, Astronomer is capable of being part of the early pace.

“I imagine we’ll be laying closer than last time,” trainer Simon Callaghan said. “I think he’s rounding into top form. I’ve been happy with him since that race.”

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