Havnameltdown holds off Newgate in Bob Hope Stakes

On many occasions this year – many years, in fact - Southern California stakes races for 2-year-olds have been intramural affairs, and so it was Sunday at Del Mar, where odds-on favorite Havnameltdown turned away his Bob Baffert-trained stablemate Newgate to win the Bob Hope Stakes by about 1 1/4 lengths.

Havnameltdown debuted with a maiden win in July and annexed the Best Pal Stakes in August before finishing a well-beaten second in the Del Mar Futurity, beaten by Cave Rock – trained by Baffert, of course. The seven-furlong Del Mar Futurity had marked Havnameltdown’s first start beyond six furlongs, but he showed in the Bob Hope that even if he’s not a true route horse, Havnameltdown can get seven-eighths.

Juan Hernandez rode Cave Rock in the Del Mar Futurity, but had been aboard Havnameltdown in the Best Pal, and he said after the Bob Hope that the colt underneath him had grown up mentally in the four months since he’d last ridden him. The Baffert-trained Hard to Figure popped out of the gate from post 1 and took an early lead; Havnameltdown had no issue sitting second.

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“The last time I rode him, he was a little sharp out of the gate. Today, he broke out very calm,” Hernandez said. Hard to Figure was getting out and difficult to control down the backstretch, and by the half-mile pole Havnameltdown had taken command. Practical Move tried to move on him between the three-furlong and quarter poles before Newgate, one path wider, took up the chase in the homestretch. Havnameltdown had plenty left for Hernandez. “My horse looks like he’s learning how to run. He was very professional.”

Off splits of 22.23, 44.36, and 1:09.17, Havnameltdown ($3.80) was timed in 1:21.68. Newgate finished about 2 1/4 lengths ahead of third-place Practical Move. Mixto was fourth, Hard to Figure fifth, while Lloyds Logic and Giver Not a Taker were scratched.

Owned by Pegram & Watson & Weitman, Havnameltdown was bred in Florida by Katherine Devall and sold there as a 2-year-old this past spring for $200,000. Havnameltdown is by Uncaptured out of Ashley’s Babe, by Put It Back.

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