Jimmy Blue Jeans has earned shot at Del Mar Derby
Rain changed the training schedule of Jimmy Blue Jeans, but it did not affect the plan to start the California-bred gelding in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 4.
Trainer Andy Mathis intended to give Jimmy Blue Jeans a turf workout last Sunday, but persistent light rain led to the cancellation of turf works. Thursday, Jimmy Blue Jeans worked five furlongs on turf in 1:00 for the $300,000 Del Mar Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf. The Del Mar Derby will be the first start in a graded stakes for Jimmy Blue Jeans.
Owned by Perry Bruno, John Gezon, and Robert Jones, Jimmy Blue Jeans has won his last three starts, all on turf. The streak began with a win in an allowance race at a mile on May 16 at Golden Gate Fields. He was eligible to be claimed for $50,000 in that race. Jimmy Blue Jeans won the $152,000 Snow Chief Stakes for statebred 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on on June 19 at Santa Anita and an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles on July 17 at Del Mar.
“We don’t have a whole bunch of options,” Mathis said Friday. “He’s here and he’s won on the course. There are some nice angles. The question is whether he’s good enough.
“The nice thing he’s 3 for 3 on the grass – three different jockeys, three different courses, and three different distances.”
Kyle Frey rode Jimmy Blue Jeans on July 17 and will have the mount in the Del Mar Derby, Mathis said.
Mathis, 43, has yet to win a graded stakes, but was second with Give Me the Lute in the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap last Sunday.
The Del Mar Derby field is expected to include Flashiest and Crew Dragon, the first two finishers of the Oceanside Stakes on July 16, as well as Zoffarelli, Hudson Ridge, and Sword Zorro, the first three from the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap on Aug. 8. Sword Zorro finished first, but was disqualified and placed third for causing interference in the final furlong.
The Del Mar Derby is expected to have a full field and could draw runners from other circuits.
The Del Mar Derby is one of eight stakes, four of which are graded, on the final four days of the meeting, Sept. 3-6. The five-day racing week starts Thursday and is the longest of the summer.
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The Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf also will be run Sept. 4.
The main race on Sept. 5 is the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante, a $300,000 race for 2-year-old fillies at seven furlongs. The Labor Day program is highlighted by the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity, a $300,000 race for 2-year-olds at seven furlongs.