Hammersly's preview: Diamond Bachelor, Plaza de Indias returning to form
There was a time when Plaza de Indias and Diamond Bachelor were competing in stakes, and it was right where they belonged. Alas, things have gone south somewhat for the pair, but the two come into Friday’s card seemingly on the upswing, as if they have some of their old mojo back.
Plaza de Indias shows up in race 4, a starter-allowance event for distaffers at a mile on the turf. Again, once a turf stakes mare, she went 0 for 9 in 2013, a record that that includes fading to seventh in a stakes here last summer.
After three so-so efforts against high-priced claimers (ran fourth in each), she’s perked up. She rallied to beat $40,000 claimers on turf here July 20. She moved to this synthetic track Aug. 3 to face a small but tough field of four in an optional claimer. She pressed the pace and poked her head in front in mid-stretch but only could manage third. Still, it represented a second straight good run. She’s down in class here and back to her best game – turf.
Diamond Bachelor was all the rage here last summer, impressively winning his first two starts, both turf routes. Another good turf route effort, this time in a stakes at Santa Anita where he ran second, earned him a shot at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on dirt at Santa Anita. Alas, he never was in the race (ran ninth) and hasn’t really looked the same since. That includes a return to turf at Santa Anita in the spring, but he only could manage fourth in the Pasadena and sixth in the La Puente. He was freshened three months, came back to try this synthetic track and sprinting both for the first time July 19, but again was no threat, plugging along to finish fourth.
However, things turned some here recently. Wheeled back in another optional-claiming main-track sprint, Diamond Bachelor seemed to find something. He lagged back and finished smartly to be a good second to the very tough Midwest invader Bull Dozer, with winning elder My Slew behind him in third. That was enough to earn an entry into last Sunday’s Grade 2 Pat O’Brien.
Seeing how tough that race came up, however, his connections opted to scratch, as the El Cajon at a mile on the main track for 3-year-olds only was available.
This once-promising horse may be rounding back to form, and surely he’s better at a mile than he is sprinting. A bullet three-furlong work here Aug. 22 (35.60) shows he’s feeling spry. Of course, all that being said, this El Cajon came up very tough, so he’s still got his work cut out for him.
A very tough El Cajon
Speaking of the El Cajon, it has often been a springboard for late-season 3-year-olds to emerge and promise good stuff for the coming year. Fed Biz comes to mind.
This year’s renewal at a mile on the main track is quite intriguing. A field of 10 (there’s an also-eligible as well) boasts a number of stakes-proven 3-year-olds, and favoritism may fall to Red Outlaw. The unbeaten son of Tribal Rule (4 for 4) has speed and has done nothing wrong. He won his debut at Betfair at Hollywood Park in June 2013, was gone six months, came back to win on Golden Gate’s main track Jan. 20, won the Baffle on the Santa Anita hillside turf course Feb. 16, was then gone again until Aug. 1, when he resurfaced here to lead all the way to win the Real Good Deal. He obviously runs on anything, but it is his first time routing, the spot came up very salty, and he got no help from the draw (far-outside post 10). Then again, Red Outlaw has overcome numerous hurdles to stay perfect.
A most intriguing character is Mark Casse’s Conquest Two Step. After rallying for second in the Churchill Downs mud June 20, he came here as part of Casse’s string and made a strong first impression. In a very strong optional-claiming sprint here Aug. 10 (against elders no less), he bided his time early and finished strongly to be a good second to the talented elder Raised a Secret. That runner has done his best work here, including being a stakes winner. Oh, and the horse who ran third behind him that day (Hadfunlastnight) came right back to win.
It’s Conquest Two Step’s first route as well, but he’s bred for this game. And while he came from well back in that Aug. 10 run, he’s by no means a one-dimensional horse. In fact, his debut win came virtually wire to wire.
Toss in stakes types Big Tire, Indexical, Home School, Friendswith K Mill, and the aforementioned Diamond Bachelor and you have a deep, competitive event.
Another juvenile setback
Om will miss Wednesday’s Del Mar Futurity while Luminance and Enchanting Lady will miss Saturday’s Del Mar Debutante, all due to ailments. Now, Desert Steel, the 3-1 morning-line favorite for Wednesday’s Generous Portion, has moved to the bench. The 2-year-old filly scratched from Wednesday’s stakes due to a “minor setback,” according to her trainer, Simon Callaghan. He said he expects her to be ready for the Santa Anita fall meet. She was coming off a smashing maiden win here July 27.
Spot play
Race 7: COVEY (#1, 7-2) was away a bit slowly in her $30,000 debut July 13 at Los Alamitos Race Course but made a smart threatening move into the lane as the 7-5 favorite before flattening out a bit to end up a well-beaten second. Still, that run showed talent. She’s been freshened since, drops in value, and has worked in solid fashion since for a trainer (Ellis) who does very nicely second time out (24 percent). Oh, it’s also nice to see that Joe Talamo was up for that debut run and stays with her despite the fact he rode another prime contender here (Nero’s Pleasure) in her last start.
Horse to watch
MACHO SOX
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Last race: Aug. 27, 7th
Finish: 2nd by 1 1/2
Beyer: 77
The son of champion Macho Uno was routing and trying turf both for the first time and nearly pulled off the 14-1 upset. He went right out to the lead in this mile turf contest, set solid splits while under constant pressure from eventual winner Maxx the Giant, and while unable to fend off that rival in the final furlong, stayed on gamely. It looks as though O’Neill made a nice claim here.