King of Gosford comes into La Jolla Handicap off a nightmare trip
?q=100)
DEL MAR, Calif. – While the top 3-year-old turf horse in California has elected to skip the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap on Sunday at Del Mar, six others will pick up the slack.
Endlessly was assigned high weight of 124 pounds for the La Jolla, but he will pass. Trainer Michael McCarthy said Endlessly is under consideration for the Grade 3, $3 million Nashville Derby Invitational on Aug. 31 at Kentucky Downs. He did not rule out the Grade 2, $300,000 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 1.
The $150,000 La Jolla will be run at 1 1/16 miles and is the middle leg of the summer turf series for 3-year-olds that began with the Oceanside on July 20 and ends with the Del Mar Derby.
Stakes winners Final Boss and Stay Hot make their first starts of summer in the La Jolla, while King of Gosford tries to make amends after a tough-trip sixth in the Oceanside.
King of Gosford began his United States career with three successive turf sprint wins, including two stakes this spring at Santa Anita and was favored in the one-mile Oceanside. It did not go well under jockey Antonio Fresu, who began the meet 1 for 28 on turf. The Oceanside was a debacle.
“It was kind of like a workout, he only ran about three-quarters of a mile,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “Antonio said he had to kind of wrap up on him through the stretch.”
King of Gosford was keen while rated, blocked at the three-eighths, blocked into the stretch, and sputtered. But with a forwardly placed trip Sunday under new rider Umberto Rispoli (8 for 25 on turf through Thursday), King of Gosford can make amends.
Final Boss won the Cinema Stakes in June at Santa Anita and trainer John Sadler has targeted the La Jolla since.
“He had a gorgeous work [July 28]; he trained really well down here,” Sadler said. His final work, 59.60 on the main track, hints Final Boss may one day give dirt a try.
Although he set the pace in both of his recent wins, Final Boss does not need the lead. Juan Hernandez rides Final Boss, who figures to set or press an easy pace.
Stay Hot is a three-time stakes winner who finished last in the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill Downs on May 4. He had excuses, according to trainer Peter Eurton.
“The ship, he didn’t school well, he was on edge, the heat, the large field, the company, just a lot of things,” Eurton said.
Eurton gave Stay Hot a three-month break.
“He seems like he’s happy again,” Eurton said. “He’s a big, strong horse and his last few works have been really quite nice. I think he’s pretty fit.”
Stay Hot often cuts it close. His last three wins were by a head, a head, and a nose. “If he’s in there at the last point, you know he’s going to give it to you,” Eurton said. Stay Hot and regular rider Fresu will rally late.
Other entrants include maiden winners Atitlan and Cathal, and longshot Prince of Power. The La Jolla is race 5 on an 11-race Sunday card.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.