Great Power, Mecklenburg look to improve
The lightly raced 3-year-olds Great Power and Mecklenburg are part of the field for a first-condition optional claimer on turf Monday at Del Mar. Both finished fourth last out and have reason to improve Monday.
The Irish import Mecklenberg was beaten two lengths in an optional claimer on turf Aug. 9 at Del Mar in his American debut. He broke slowly and ran in a rank fashion under jockey Flavien Prat early in the race.
“Most horses finish up the track when they do what he did,” trainer Mike Puype said. “He only got beat two lengths. Maybe it was raceday competitiveness. We’re not quite sure of it ourselves.
“He hasn’t done it in the mornings.”
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Great Power finished last of four in the Grade 3 Los Alamitos Derby on dirt July 4, 15 lengths behind winner Uncle Chuck. Great Power showed the presence of mucus in a post-race examination, trainer Simon Callaghan said.
“I think that’s why he faded,” Callaghan said.
Monday’s race, run at 1 1/16 miles and part of a nine-race program, will be the first start for Great Power on turf. By Blame, Great Power won his debut in a maiden special weight race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita last September and did not race again until he finished third behind Charlatan in a first-condition allowance race in March at Santa Anita. The Los Alamitos Derby was his third start.
“We felt it was the right time to try the turf,” Callaghan said. “We’ve always held the horse in high regard. We’re hoping we can get in a good groove with him.”
Other projected runners in Monday’s race are Ajourneytofreedom, who was third in the Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf July 10; Tripoli, who was second by a head in the same race as Mecklenburg on Aug. 9; and Scarto, winner of a starter allowance at a mile on turf for Puype on Aug. 7.
Ajourneytofreedom was recently transferred from trainer Blaine Wright to Peter Miller.