Juveniles throw down on turf in Zuma Beach, Surfer Girl
When Mackinnon left the winner’s circle after the Del Mar Juvenile Turf on Sept. 6, trainer Doug O’Neill said the main objective for the autumn was the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf there on Nov. 5 with the possibility of no races in between.
Mackinnon will not go that long between races.
Sunday, Mackinnon will start with an excellent chance for a third consecutive win, when he runs in the $200,000 Zuma Beach Stakes for 2-year-olds at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.
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O’Neill said on Friday that Mackinnon recovered quickly from the Del Mar Juvenile Turf, his first stakes win, allowing for a start on Sunday.
“The way he came out of the race and the amount of energy he showed told me he didn’t need that much spacing,” O’Neill said.
The Zuma Beach Stakes is the eighth race on a 10-race program that includes five stakes. The final race of the day is the $200,000 Surfer Girl Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at a mile on turf.
Mackinnon is part of a field of 10 and will be ridden by Juan Hernandez, who has been aboard the colt for his last two wins, including a maiden race at a mile on turf at Del Mar on July 31.
Mackinnon won a maiden race and the stakes from a stalking position.
“Juan knows Mackinnon really well,” O’Neill said. “If he gets good position, when you call on him, he’ll finish.
“I’m optimistic that he can improve off his last race, and he’ll need to.”
Mackinnon is the lone stakes winner in the Zuma Beach Stakes. Thirty Four Coupe and Silver Surfer, second and third in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf, are part of the field, along with Il Capitano, who led throughout a maiden special weight race at a mile on turf.
Thirty Four Coupe set the pace in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf and was beaten 1 3/4 lengths. Silver Surfer raced in traffic in early stretch of the Del Mar Juvenile Turf and closed with interest to finish a nose behind Thirty Four Coupe.
“He got in a little bit of traffic trouble,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “It didn’t open up for him.”
In the month since the Del Mar Juvenile Turf, Silver Surfer has thrived at Santa Anita, D’Amato said.
“Coming back to Santa Anita, on a training track he can gallop on and breeze on in a consistent manner, has made all the difference,” he said. “I see a big improvement in his training.”
O’Neill also starts the maiden filly La Deuxieme Etoile, who was eighth in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf on Sept. 5. La Deuxieme Etoile is capable of a surprise win Sunday, O’Neill said.
“She’s had a couple of unlucky trips in her first few races,” he said. “I think on her best day she could throw up a good result there. We’re taking a chance.”
Surfer Girl Stakes
The Surfer Girl Stakes has the appearance of a wide-open race.
The first three finishers of the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf – Liam’s Dove, Helens Well, and Dolly May – start in a field of 11 that includes the promising maiden race winners Brandon’smylawyer, Cairo Memories, and Saturday Nite Girl.
Brandon’smylawyer won a maiden special weight race at five furlongs on turf in her debut on Sept. 2, closing from fourth in a field of eight to win by a half-length over stablemate Sterling Crest. Brandon’smylawyer and Sterling Crest are trained by Richard Baltas.
“I think they both ran well,” Baltas said. “Sterling Crest was closing. Brandon’smylawyer won first time out, which is unusual for me. We’ve got a little more distance.
“I don’t think it is that difficult of a race.”
Liam’s Dove led throughout the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf to record a 34-1 upset, and is expected to be near the front again on Sunday, trainer Peter Miller said.
“She showed that she likes to be on the lead,” he said. “We’ll let her run out of there.”
Liam’s Dove was a maiden coming into the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf, and Miller admits she has something to prove in the Surfer Girl.
“We’re curious as well,” Miller said. “Was it a one-off, a fluke, or is it that she’s this good?”
O’Neill has two starters in the Surfer Girl, It’s Simple and Miss Bellatrix.
◗ Sunday’s card begins with the $75,000 Unzip Me Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.
Brilliant Cut, trained by O’Neill, is part of a field of eight in her first start since a nose loss in an allowance race at six furlongs on turf last March. In January, Brilliant Cut was third in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes on dirt in her first start since being claimed for $50,000 last November.