Itsinthepost seeks elusive Del Mar win in Handicap

DEL MAR, Calif. – For all he has accomplished in his career – notably seven graded stakes wins in the last 17 months – Itsinthepost is winless in 10 starts at Del Mar.

Itsinthepost has been second three times at Del Mar, but the overall lack of success here is a concern for trainer Jeff Mullins in advance of Saturday’s Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf.

“I’m not convinced he really likes the course here,” Mullins said this week. “I don’t think it’s conducive to his running style. The corners are too sharp, and the stretch is too short.

“We’ll give it a try and see what happens.”

To be fair, Itsinthepost was second by three-quarters of a length in the 2017 Del Mar Handicap. Last November, Itsinthepost was seventh against some of the world’s best turf runners here in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Itsinthepost comes off a seventh in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf here July 22.

While Itsinthepost did win the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita in January, his other six stakes wins since late March 2017 have been at 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 miles.

In the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap, Itsinthepost carries the top weight of 123 pounds in a field of 12. Five others in the field are stakes winners – Ashleyluvssugar, Cashman, Flamboyant, Multiplier, and Ritzy A. P.

Ashleyluvssugar won the 2016 Del Mar Handicap. Cashman won a stakes in Germany last month and will have his American debut on Saturday. Ritzy A. P. makes the quickest turnaround, having won the Joseph Grace Handicap at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa last Saturday.

Trainer Phil D’Amato has three runners in the Del Mar Handicap – expected pacesetter Kenjisstorm, the stalker Ya Gotta Wanna, and the closer Fashion Business.

The winner receives a fees-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Itsinthepost, by American Post
Last 3 Beyers: 89-100-99

◗ Owned by Red Baron’s Barn, Itsinthepost has run only in Grade 2 stakes this year, winning four times. He typically races a few lengths off the pace and rallies wide in the final half-mile. The style worked in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita on May 26.

◗ In the Eddie Read Stakes, Itsinthepost was well placed on the turn but faded to finish seven lengths behind winner Catapult, a leading contender in Sunday’s Grade 2 Del Mar Mile.

“I think it was too short for him,” Mullins said.

Kenjisstorm, by Stormy Atlantic
Last 3 Beyers: 98-94-95

◗ Kenjisstorm, second to Itsinthepost in the Whittingham in his last start, will race at 1 3/8 miles for the first time in the Del Mar Handicap. D’Amato is the 6-year-old’s seventh trainer. He has trained Kenjisstorm since the start of this year.

◗ Kenjisstorm drew the rail.

“I think he’ll be on or near the lead,” D’Amato said. “He can go with a high cruising speed and can gallop around there.”

Fashion Business, by Frankel
Last 3 Beyers: 92-101-94

◗ Fashion Business has yet to win a stakes. He was fifth in the Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park on June 9, finishing a length behind the winner, Spring Quality. Fashion Business was eighth in the Eddie Read Stakes.

“We used that race as a prep for the Del Mar Handicap,” he said. “He wants to go long.”

◗ A closer, Fashion Business began his career in England. The Del Mar Handicap will be his seventh appearance in a stakes.

“He’s really coming around and is on his toes,” D’Amato said. “I think he’ll have a similar performance to the Manhattan.”