Free's preview: 2-year-old sprints highlight card
DEL MAR, Calif. – Sunday is the final day of week three at no-turf-racing Del Mar, where inside speed reigned supreme Saturday. Blame the rain. The Sunday card includes two interesting sprints for 2-year-olds – a maiden race and a graded stakes.
Race 6: Maidens
The scratch of Seattle Boom is big. He is a fast-working son of War Front purchased at Barretts for $300,000. He was scheduled to debut for win-early trainer Craig Dollase. He is out. Have to wait for another day.
The scratch allows at least one also-eligible runner into the field. The program favorite is also-eligible American Pharoah, a son of Pioneerof the Nile making his debut for trainer Bob Baffert. He has fast works, typical for a Baffert trainee.
The second choice is also-eligible Remo, whose runner-up debut was solid. He pressed an honest pace, made the lead at the eighth pole, and got run over by Del Mar Futurity candidate Bench Warrant. With a race under his belt, Remo is eligible to improve.
Dream Police was the beaten favorite in his debut. He finished behind Two Six Wins, an outsider later in the Best Pal Stakes. A big effort by Dream Police obviously would flatter Two Six Wins. Dream Police has trained well over Polytrack.
Life on Riveria deserves consideration. He is by Hold Me Back, whose progeny already are 3 for 11 first out. He is trained by Peter Miller, whose only debut winner from his current 2-year-olds was Stealth Drone on July 23. That horse was claimed for $80,000.
True Image is a first-time starter who showed gate speed in a five-furlong workout July 26. His drill was timed in 59 seconds and visually impressive, according to National Turf.
It is an interesting race. It is unknown if any stars are hidden in the field.
Race 8: Interesting stakes
The promising 2-year-olds Story Tell and Bad Read Sanchez meet again Sunday in a budding rivalry that may continue into the Del Mar Futurity on closing day, Sept. 3. It will only continue if they are good enough.
First, both must prove to be as effective on synthetic as dirt. They square off in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes, a 6 1/2-furlong race that is more than a two-horse affair.
Rowdy Dylan is not a confirmed starter, but two shippers who won maiden races at Churchill Downs have “new shooter” appeal – Conquest Bigluck E and Skyway.
Conquest Bigluck E won first out, racing 4 1/2 furlongs at Churchill Downs in June. The Best Pal is his first start since.
The ramifications of Conquest Bigluck E’s performance will carry to Woodbine, where the 2-year-old colt Conquest Tsunami is 3 for 3, all blowouts. Both colts are owned by Conquest Stables and trained by Mark Casse.
Conquest Tsunami’s plans currently are undetermined. Conquest Stables and Casse hope to have a starter in the Del Mar Futurity. Conquest Bigluck E would represent if he runs well Saturday. If not, it is possible the 3-for-3 Conquest Tsunami will ship from Woodbine.
As for the Best Pal favorites, perhaps Bad Read Sanchez can turn the tables on Story To Tell, who defeated him by 1 1/4 lengths at Los Alamitos in the $100,000 Willard Proctor Stakes last month.
Bad Read Sanchez was making only his second start in the Proctor. After breaking from the inside post, he checked slightly into the turn, lost position, dropped back slightly, then re-engaged two wide. It was not dramatic, but it happened. And it did not help.
As for Story to Tell, yes, he had a perfect trip in the Proctor. He also won under a hold, more impressively than the 72 Beyer indicates. But on Sunday, he is stuck down on the rail. Maybe it won’t matter.
While both favorites deserve admiration, there is a nagging feeling neither is a superstar. Los Alamitos stakes form has not transferred well to Del Mar. Furthermore, neither Story to Tell nor Bad Read Sanchez has trained particularly well on Polytrack.
They might be vulnerable. Or they might be the best horses in the field.
The Best Pal is a good race. It would not be a surprise if either Casse trainee – Conquest Bigluck E or Skyway – outran their odds. Two Six Wins, 20-1, has speed and might make the rail. A bias longshot, perhaps?
Wednesday preview: Race 7
Another good stakes for juveniles is on tap next week – the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. The Jerry Hollendorfer-trained Caval, a Blame filly who won big first out, is the likely favorite.
Her rivals include the international shipper Sunset Glow and the convincing debut winner Conquest Eclipse.