Glory might step up for Matriarch

DEL MAR, Calif. - Glory, now 2 for 2 on turf following an allowance win Saturday, will be considered for the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes on Nov. 29, according to Dan Ward, the local assistant to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

Glory, by Tapit, won just one of her first six starts, all on dirt and synthetic, but has scored two daylight victories since moving to turf.

“You have to take a look at that race because there aren’t any other graded stakes around here until January, and there aren’t any other Grade 1 races for fillies anywhere until, what, April at Keeneland?” Ward said. “It would be a big jump. I’m sure it’ll be a strong field, but this is a Grade 1 here, and we know she loves it here.”

Glory is owned by the Fox Hill Farms of Rick Porter, who owns the unbeaten Songbird, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and a cinch to be named the Eclipse Award winner as champion 2-year-old filly. Ward said Songbird remained in Kentucky following the Breeders’ Cup for a brief freshening.

Whip violations

Jockey Drayden Van Dyke was suspended for three days and jockeys Mike Smith and Bruno Panicucci fined for excessive whipping in stewards’ rulings last week.

Van Dyke was cited for his ride when finishing second on Chiropractor in the seventh race on Friday. It is the sixth time he has been penalized since the new rule went into effect in the middle of this year. His suspension begins Friday.

Smith was fined $500 – owing to this being his third offense – for his winning ride aboard Iron Fist on Nov. 1. Panicucci, a first-time offender, was fined $200 for his winning ride on I’ll Play My Hand on Nov. 5.

◗ Trainer Hector Palma, 78, got career win No. 1,100 on Saturday with Tough But Nice, then upped his total to 1,101 later in the day with Shiny Nugget.

◗ Del Mar is offering a high-end Thanksgiving dining package in the Turf Club that includes a three-course Thanksgiving meal, bottomless mimosas and champagne, and admission and seating for the Nov. 26 card, which begins at 11 a.m. Pacific. The cost is $100. Information: 858-792-4266.

◗ Horsemen (licensed trainers, jockeys, owners, and agents) can get food and beverage discounts during this meet through the front-side racing office. Three $10 vouchers are available for $20, a savings of $10.