Fun to Dream wins Betty Grable as Hernandez has solid weekend

DEL MAR, Calif. – The odds are against jockey Juan Hernandez winning every stakes race at the Del Mar fall meet, but he was perfect on opening weekend.

Hernandez swept Del Mar’s three opening-week stakes, capped by the $98,000 Betty Grable Stakes on Sunday. Hernandez rode heavily favored Fun to Dream ($2.40) to a head victory over stubborn pacesetter Taming the Tigress in the sprint for California-bred fillies and mares.

The win was the third on the card for Hernandez, whose meet-leading seven wins on opening weekend included the Let It Ride Stakes with Handy Dandy on Friday, and the Kathryn Crosby Stakes on Saturday with Bipartisanship.

“I’m riding good horses,” Hernandez said. “I just have to put him in the right position, and give them the opportunity to win the race.”

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Fun to Dream was not in the right position at the start of the seven-furlong Betty Grable, though it was no fault of Hernandez. Fun to Dream was crowded and bumped soon after the start, lost position briefly, and bumped again with the pacesetter in the stretch before inching in front to win by a head in 1:22.14.

“She’s a warrior,” Hernandez said. “She didn’t want to get beat.”

Bob Baffert trains Fun to Dream for owners Connie Pageler and Jill Baffert, his wife. The win was her fourth from five starts. Baffert will consider running the 3-year-old Arrogate filly in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.

Taming the Tigress, making her first start since trainer Librado Barocio claimed her for $20,000 only two weeks ago, finished more than five lengths clear of third. The third- through fifth-place finishers in the five-runner field were All Dialed In, Big Novel and Roman Empress.

*** Coast of Roan became the second horse in three days to collapse and die at Del Mar after running in a turf race. Coast of Roan finished last in race 3 Sunday, and after he returned to the main track he collapsed in front of the grandstand. On Friday in race 5, Kazuhiko pulled up in the stretch and did not finish. After he walked off the track, he collapsed and died. Coast of Roan’s trainer was Jeff Mullins; Kazuhiko’s trainer was Peter Eurton.

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