Joymaker better off against males in Robert Dupret Derby

One week ago, trainer Quinn Howey had to make a decision – run Joymaker against older fillies and mares in the Luther Burbank or wait a week to run her against her own age group, including males.

Howey opted to wait a week and run in Saturday’s $50,000 Robert Dupret Derby at Golden Gate Fields, and the decision may prove wise.

Avenue de France edged Clockstrikestwelve by a nose in the Luther Burbank in an effort it would have been tough for Joymaker to match.

Now the Slew’s Tiznow filly will see how her undefeated record on turf stacks up against males.

Howey said the fact that Joymaker was coming off a July 23 stakes effort at Del Mar played into the decision.

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“This race fits her schedule,” he said. “We don’t have to ship, and there aren’t other places for her to run. She’s training well, and we think a mile and a sixteenth is a good distance for her.”

Joymaker has speed but doesn’t need the lead.

“She just gets in a comfortable rhythm,” Howey said.

Though meeting males is not an easy assignment, Howey also chose to run in the Derby in hopes of getting black type for Joymaker and the residual benefit it would accrue to owners-breeders Dr. and Mrs. William Gray, owners of Joymaker’s dam, Joyously.

Joymaker’s chances Saturday improved when trainer Andy Mathis opted to run Jimmy Blue Jeans, who has won three straight turf races including the Snow Chief, in the Del Mar Derby.

But there is plenty of solid competition that Joymaker will still have to face. All the runners have solid turf breeding on the sire side.

Two other fillies, Misty Car, third in the Luther Burbank, and Shore Break, 2 for 2 over the course, are among her six rivals.

Stakes-winning Stalking Shadow and Jungle Cry, third by more than 10 lengths in front of Stalking Shadow in the Alcatraz on the turf here, head the male contingent that includes Code Duello and Swift as I Am, who are both making their stakes debut.

Though a troubled seventh in the Oceanside at Del Mar in his last start, Jungle Cry followed up his third in the Alcatraz with a win over this course while earning an 80 Beyer Speed Figure, one point higher than his Oceanside figure.

“He’s a pretty handy little horse,” trainer Steve Specht said of Jungle Cry. “He kinda got pushed out on the turn and checked in the lane but still only lost by two lengths.”