Mackinnon on road to BC Juvenile Turf, O'Neill says

DEL MAR, Calif. - Three races into his career, the 2-year-old colt Mackinnon may have found his niche in one-mile turf races.

On Saturday at Del Mar, Mackinnon, a colt by American Pharoah, was tried at that distance for the first time and won a maiden special weight race by 1 3/4 lengths.

Earlier this year, Mackinnon was fourth in a maiden race on dirt at 4 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita on May 9 and a well-beaten second in a maiden race at five furlongs on turf there on June 11.

“The turf means so much,” trainer Doug O’Neill said. “It’s a pedigree thing. He didn’t handle the dirt in his debut.”

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Ridden by Juan Hernandez on Saturday, Mackinnon closed from third to take the lead in the stretch. Purchased earlier this year for $285,000, Mackinnon races for Erik Johnson’s ERJ Racing. Johnson is a defensemen for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League. The colt is named for his star teammate, Nathan MacKinnon.

Johnson was in attendance Saturday. O’Neill said Mackinnon will be considered for the $100,000 Del Mar Juvenile Turf at a mile on Sept. 6, closing day of the current meeting. A successful race there could put Mackinnon closer to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 5.

“The dream is the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf,” O’Neill said. “We’re headed the right way."

Mackinnon was timed in 1:37.05 on Saturday. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 55. Interestingly, a corresponding race in late July 2020 was won by Rombauer, who earned the same figure. Rombauer won the Preakness Stakes in May and was third in the Belmont Stakes on June 5 in his most recent start.

Earlier on Saturday’s program, Grace Adler won her debut in a maiden special weight race for 2-year-old fillies at five furlongs that is expected to lead to a start in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 5.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Grace Adler closed from fourth in a field of six to win by three-quarters of a length. Prat said the filly showed inexperience and promise through the 58.67 seconds needed to finish the race.

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“She broke running and after a few strides she dropped the bridle,” Prat said. “She regrouped. She came back nicely.”

Grace Adler is trained by Bob Baffert, who told Del Mar publicity that he thought the race distance would be too short for the filly, who is by Curlin.

“We think she has a good future ahead of her,” Baffert said.