Look for Helens Well to come on strong in stretch of Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf
DEL MAR, Calif. – The performance by Helens Well in her U.S. debut last month was a metaphor for how trainer Phil D’Amato’s meet has gone this summer at Del Mar. She walked out of the gate, then finished with a flourish.
Helens Well will try to continue that trajectory for D’Amato on Sunday at Del Mar when she and two stablemates compete in the $100,000 Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf, which drew a field of 11 for the one-mile race.
The Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf is race 9 of 11, and immediately precedes the day’s main event, the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante.
Helens Well, an import from Ireland, closed furiously to beat maidens Aug. 15.
“It was a nice performance,” D’Amato said. “She walked out of the gate, and was flying late. I definitely think she’s moved forward coming out of the race.”
Helens Well landed the outside post, so jockey Flavien Prat will have to work out a trip. Prat picked up the mount when Umberto Rispoli opted for the Mark Casse-trained Into Touring, whom he’d ridden to a victory here against maidens last month.
D’Amato also is sending out Sea Breezing, like Helens Well an Irish import, and Sax, who after three dirt sprints is trying turf and two turns.
Sea Breezing, who drew the rail, was acquired by the Little Red Feather partnership after winning on debut in June. She has been in steady training here for more than a month.
Sax, a daughter of Jimmy Creed, “acts like a filly who will like two turns,” D’Amato said.
She was a distant fourth last time out in the Grade 2 Sorrento.
“Her last race, she was climbing,” D’Amato said. “She didn’t really run until she was in the clear. That led us to believe she’d like grass. Her grass breeze went really well.”
Into Touring, the choice of Rispoli, overcame a wide draw to defeat maidens Aug. 1 after finishing third on debut at Gulfstream.
“I thought she ran well, and I thought Rispoli gave her a great ride,” Casse said by telephone from Saratoga on Friday morning. “It looks like if she picks up her game she’ll be tough.”
Casse said he sent Into Touring here owing to the Ship and Win program, for which she cashed in with her maiden victory.
Trainers John Sadler and Doug O’Neill are doubling up in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Sadler has Irish invader Dolly May – who beat 12 rivals overseas in her lone start before being acquired by Kosta and Pete Hronis – as well as Dendera, who won a maiden grass race against California-breds in her second start.
O’Neill has the maiden La Deuxieme Etoile, second to Into Touring last time out, and Miss Bellatrix, idle since beating maidens on grass going long June 18 at Santa Anita.
Urban and Liam’s Dove, though still maidens, ran well in grass races last month and merit chances in a wide-open race.