Free: Shaaz showing Grade 1 talent in morning
Opening week at Del Mar, last Friday-Sunday, was a smash – average field size 10.0, median $2 win payoff more than $8. The main track played fast, and the turf course was kind to closers. Here’s hoping for more of the same where the turf meets the surf. This week’s notebook is focused exclusively on Del Mar.
Shaaz a workout winner
Allowance winner Shaaz is a better work horse than Grade 1 winner Country Grammer, and it showed July 18 and 24. They finished heads-up with identical times, but don’t be fooled. Country Grammer was asked hard, while Shaaz went comfortably and “won” both workouts.
Bob Baffert trains the pair, and they run Saturday. Country Grammer goes in the Grade 2 San Diego, Shaaz in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby. The 1 1/16 miles of the San Diego will not be ideal for Country Grammer.
“He wants a full mile and a quarter,” Baffert said.
As for Shaaz, if he draws well in the six-furlong Bing Crosby, look out. Figuratively speaking, he is dropping in class from team works with a Grade 1 winner into a weak Bing Crosby.
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Mandaloun legged up
Brad Cox-trained Grade 1 winners shipping from Kentucky are Mandaloun for the San Diego and Shedaresthedevil for the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch on Aug. 6. Mandaloun finished a flat fourth last month in his first start since the Saudi Cup in February.
“It’s a similar situation to Knicks Go post-Saudi Cup last year,” Cox said.
Knicks Go finished fourth in his comeback, then won four straight, including the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Not to compare Mandaloun to the faster Knicks Go, but Mandaloun “got a lot out of his race,” Cox said, and should improve second start back.
As for Shedaresthedevil, Cox said the Hirsch “makes the most sense for her to continue to march forward toward the Breeders’ Cup.”
She won a Grade 2 last out, and the Hirsch at Del Mar last year.
Brickyard Ride will be back
Seven-time stakes-winning sprinter Brickyard Ride is out for the year. Trainer Craig Lewis broke the news in an interview on TVG and later elaborated.
“We nuke-scanned him, his knee lit up, and there was a chip in there,” he said.
The prognosis is positive. The chip was removed, Brickyard Ride will rehab at Kingfisher Farms in central California and return in fall to prepare for a 2023 campaign at age 6. Just in time for the winter meet at Santa Anita.
“We do know this – he is very fond of Santa Anita,” Lewis said.
Brickyard Ride, owned by breeder Sonny Pais, is 12 for 17 at Santa Anita (both surfaces).
Bolden worth waiting for
Missing from the nominations to the Bing Crosby on Saturday at Del Mar is the lightly raced, undefeated sprinter Bolden, whose 103-Beyer Speed Figure turf win last out ranks among the fastest sprints of the year in California. Trainer Phil D’Amato said Bolden “has something minor.”
“I’m hoping to run him at the end of the meet,” D’Amato said.
Bolden, a 4-year-old California-bred by Square Eddie, is 3 for 3, all against statebred company, with wins on turf and dirt. He’ll be tough in an open first-level allowance.
Spreading the wealth
Pick five bettors need to recognize which races to spread in. A bettor in Albuquerque, N.M., went deep in the Del Mar early pick five Saturday and was one of two tickets to hit for $383,050.80. The bettor’s $1,800 spread ticket covered 3,600 combinations at 50 cents each (4 runners first leg, 6, 5, 5, 6 runners remaining legs). The $2 win payoffs: $6.20 (favorite), $31.20, $9.60, $65, and $39.40. The second winning ticket cost only $90. According to a Del Mar official, it was purchased at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. Anyway, nice hits by both.
Tough turf double
Balnikhov somehow negotiated a clean trip weaving through traffic in a big field of 3-year-old turf milers to win the Oceanside Stakes under a clever ride by Umberto Rispoli. Most credit goes to the horse, however. Balnikhov smoked his final quarter in 23.14 seconds, a half-second quicker than the next-fastest finisher.
Balnikhov runs Sept. 3 in the 1 1/8-mile Grade 2 Del Mar Derby, and there lies the challenge. It is difficult, even for a late-runner, to stretch from the Oceanside to the derby. Twirling Candy in 2010 is the only one of the past 16 Oceanside winners to run next in the Del Mar Derby and win.
Kingmax comes with big rep
Speaking of 3-year-olds on turf, a Kingman colt who arrived from Europe a week ago commands attention in either the Grade 3 La Jolla on Aug. 7, or an entry-level allowance. He is Kingmax, and his form includes a Group 3 third at Royal Ascot and respectable efforts against top company. Kingmax is 1 for 7.
He is owned by Amo Racing, and his new U.S. trainer is Jack Sisterson. Expectations are extremely high. Two other Amo Racing-owned imports recently sent to Sisterson include first-time gelding Malex and Bullet Force. The best is Kingmax.
Stone Silent has knee chip
The early leader in the local 2-year-old filly division will miss the summer. She is Stone Silent, who scored an impressive debut victory facing winners June 18 in the Fasig-Tipton Debutante at Santa Anita.
“She came out of her race with a small chip in her right knee,” trainer John Sadler said.
Stone Silent will be out 60 days and return in fall.
With Stone Silent sidelined, you’d have to make Procrastination the early favorite for the Grade 2 Sorrento on Aug. 13. Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbreds and trained by Michael McCarthy, Procrastination won first out by eight lengths July 4 at Los Alamitos.
Satin Doll stretches out
The 2-year-old filly Satin Doll did not set a speed record in her $65 debut win at five furlongs, but she earned a respectable 67 Beyer. And few firsters produce a sustained rally such as Satin Doll, who should relish seven furlongs in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 10. Trainer Doug O’Neill said the Congrats filly will aim toward that race.
Three behind Satin Doll are worth following – runner-up Halosnheaven, third-place Spicybug, and an also-ran. Seventh-place Right Reasons got lost after a slow start from the rail, but finished evenly in a better-than-looked educational prep.
Diodoro not holding back
Most of the 18 horses that trainer Robertino Diodoro and assistant Sean Williams brought to Del Mar are dirt claiming horses to be aggressively placed for the ship-and-win purse bonus. Handicappers, take note.
“If we’re not going to run them aggressively, we might as well not run,” Diodoro said.
Meanwhile, plans are being formulated for promising 2-year-old colt Zaici.
“He looks just like Keepmeinmind,” Williams said referring to the Grade 2 winner who finished seventh in the 2021 Kentucky Derby for Diodoro.
Keepmeinmind and Zaici both are sired by Laoban. Diodoro said Zaici “looks like a two-turn horse.”
A maiden winner second out at Churchill Downs, Zaici will aim to a $200,000 stakes on Aug. 14 – either the Ellis Park Juvenile or Grade 2 Best Pal at Del Mar.
C Z Rocket still can fly
The 8-year-old sprinter C Z Rocket has lost a step on speed figures, but none of his desire. His allowance win Saturday at Del Mar was his 12th from 32 starts and puts him on target for next month’s seven-furlong Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes, which he won in 2020 and finished second in last year.
“He’s just a classy, cool dude,” trainer Peter Miller said. “A love to be around, just a big ham, and loves attention. One of my all-time favorites.”
Claimed for $40,000 in 2020, C Z Rocket has won eight races and more than $1.3 million since. The Saturday runner-up, stablemate Apprehend, broke awkwardly, raced five wide, and got worn down.
“He put away everyone but the old man,” Miller said.
Apprehend also will target the Pat O’Brien. C Z Rocket earned a 92 Beyer.
Moving like a winner, indeed
Horse owner Paul Newhart is a fan of track announcer Trevor Denman, who sometimes uses the phrase, “Out there moving like a winner.” With that in mind, Newhart named a Texas Ryano filly Movinglikeawinner. She scored a $31.20 dirt-sprint upset Saturday at Del Mar, a debut victory that surprised Newhart, co-owner Nadine Anderson, and trainer Steve Knapp.
Newhart explained the name: “I like Trevor Denman, I like that particular call, and I lucked out.”
Movinglikeawinner, who Knapp believes will prefer turf, might be better than her $20,000 maiden-claiming win indicates. As for Texas Ryano progeny, they are now 3 for 11 first out, according to DRF Formulator. Recent debut winners by Texas Ryano also include Carolyn’s Way ($20.60) and Texas Charm ($56.40).
$65 winner for the taking
Hopefully, Daily Racing Form readers backed Irideo on Sunday in the Wickerr Stakes based on his inclusion in the weekly DRF Southern California Horses to Watch feature. The HTW commentary on Irideo from DRF.com and the June 18 print edition: “Group 1 winner in Argentina. This gelding’s third U.S. start was his best yet. Saved ground and finished well, more than three lengths clear of third. Follow on Del Mar turf.”
After the scratch of Smooth Like Strait, the Wickerr became wide open. Irideo paid $65.