King of Gosford adapts, takes Wickerr on front end
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DEL MAR, Calif. − The expected tactics of Sunday’s $101,500 Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar changed remarkably when expected pacesetter Captain Choochies stumbled at the start.
Race favorite King of Gosford inherited the lead and kept it throughout the one-mile turf race, winning the sixth stakes of his accomplished career.
Putting King of Gosford in front was not a concern to winning rider Umberto Rispoli who noticed that 15-1 Captain Choochies had failed to reach the front in the first furlong.
“My first thought was to go the lead,” Rispoli said. “When I passed the wire and was going to the [first turn], he was relaxed for me.”
King of Gosford ($4.80) set a moderate pace of 23.85 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.92 for a half-mile. He led by a half-length over Captain Choochies with a quarter-mile remaining and won by 1 1/4 lengths over 31-1 Twirling Point, the longest shot in the field. Twirling Point closed from sixth of eight.
King of Gosford was timed in 1:34.48 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 95.
The Wickerr was a prep race for the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on turf on Aug. 22, trainer Phil D’Amato said.
“Hopefully, it’s a good confidence booster,” D’Amato said.
Watching King of Gosford set the pace was not a concern for D’Amato. King of Gosford won the Grade 2 Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds on turf from the front at Santa Anita in December 2024.
“This is what good riders do,” D’Amato said of Rispoli. “We thought we’d be stalking. He’s won on the lead in the past.”
Artislas (13-1) finished third, followed by Atitlan, First Peace, Freedom’s Not Free, American Hope, and Captain Choochies.
King of Gosford, a British-bred 5-year-old horse by Zoustar, won for the eighth time in his 21st start in the Wickerr, which was restricted to non-winners of a stakes worth $50,000 or more to the winner, other than statebred races, at a mile or over since Oct. 1.
King of Gosford, who has earned $822,192, ended a three-race losing streak since the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa in May 2025 on Sunday.
The Wickerr Stakes was King of Gosford third start this year, all at a mile on turf. He was fourth by 1 3/4 lengths in the Grade 3 American Stakes at Santa Anita on April 18, and third by 1 1/2 lengths to Formidable Man in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on May 25.
King of Gosford races for the partnership of Sandra Benowitz, John Rochfort, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig and Jeremy Peskoff.
Sumter wins turf sprint
The 7-year-old Sumter won for the second time in his last four starts in an allowance race at five furlongs on turf earlier on Sunday’s program, a performance expected to lead to an appearance in stakes next month.
Ridden by Kazushi Kimura, Sumter ($15.60) closed from fifth in a field of seven to win by three-quarters of a length over 8-5 favorite Motorious. Sumter was timed in 55.72 seconds and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 93.
The win led trainer Richard Mandella to suggest that Sumter could return in a Grade 2 turf race on Aug. 22 – the $300,000 Del Mar Mile or the $200,000 Green Flash Handicap at five furlongs.
A gelding, Sumter races for owners and breeders Perry and Ramona Bass. He has won 7 of 35 starts and earned $660,270. In March, Sumter won the Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course, his fifth stakes win.
Sumter was later fifth in the Grade 3 American Stakes at a mile on turf on April 18 and second by a nose to Freedom’s Not Free as the 2-1 favorite in the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes on the hillside turf course on June 13.
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