He Will ends losing streak in Lure Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – He Will ended an eight-race losing streak in Thursday’s $102,580 Lure Stakes for turf milers at Del Mar, a result likely to lead to a graded stakes appearance later this month.

Ridden by Mike Smith, He Will closed from eighth in the final furlong to win by a length over 7-1 Tequila Joe. A Red Tie Day, a 7-1 shot, finished third, a nose behind Tequila Joe.

Sent off favored, He Will ($7.80) was timed in 1:35.33.

He Will was eighth in a field of nine before Smith guided him seven wide in the stretch. He Will caught the eye in the final furlong, and not just because he raced closest to the grandstand. He Will closed more than 4 1/2 lengths in the last eighth of a mile to reach the front.

“I think this race set up better for him,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. “It looked like once he moved on him he would win.”

Forever Juanito, who set the pace, finished fourth, followed by Eckersley, Ample Sufficiency, Moonlight Drive, Twentytwentyvision, and Cistron.

Ample Sufficiency was vanned off the track and taken to trainer Dan Blacker’s barn, according to track stewards.

Owned by the partnership of Mark Schlaich, Andrew Hillas, George Todaro, Mark Randall and Hollendorfer, He Will has won 6 of 19 starts and earned $322,619.

He Will’s losing streak included seconds in two recent stakes for California-breds – a head loss in the California Dreamin’ Stakes here in July and a half-length loss in the E.B. Johnston Stakes at Los Alamitos in September. More recently, He Will was fourth in the Obviously Mile on turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 7.

The Lure Stakes was He Will’s first win since a second-condition optional claimer here last November. The Lure Stakes was restricted to non-winners of a stakes worth $60,000 or more to the winner, other than statebred races, at a mile or more since July 1.

Hollendorfer said He Will may start in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap, a Grade 2 at 1 1/16 miles on turf here on Nov. 26.