Making a leap at age 3, Proletariat wires Oceanside
:quality(75))
DEL MAR, Calif. – Proletariat, the colt who led throughout Friday’s $153,000 Oceanside Handicap for 3-year-olds on turf at Del Mar, has changed considerably since last fall, when he finished third in two turf Grade 3 stakes at a mile for 2-year-olds.
This year’s version is a cooler dude, as evidenced by Friday’s race, which Proletariat won by 5 3/4 lengths. Ridden by Kyle Frey, the only jockey to ride him in six career starts, Proletariat led by three lengths on the backstretch and by 4 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining.
“Last year, he was still rather green,” Frey said. “I knew he was quick. We hadn’t gotten him to settle in the mornings and it was hard to get him to drop the bit when he got going. This year, we’re going easy in the first part and making sure he finished up.”
Proletariat ($14.80) ran a mile on turf in 1:33.54 in the Oceanside. His chances were aided by the absence of significant pressure from the other 10 runners. Proletariat, the fourth choice of 11, set an early pace of 22.49 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.63 for a half-mile.
In the early furlongs, Frey said Proletariat felt as if he was running at a slower tempo.
:: Play to Win at Del Mar! Get DRF Past Performances, Expert Picks and Clocker Reports
“The way he was doing it, his ears were up,” he said. “I know how fast I’m going, but the way he was doing it felt we were going in 25” seconds for the opening quarter-mile.
“He was doing it so effortlessly. I knew I had plenty in the tank.”
Proletariat finished clear of two stakes runners who finished second and third – Secured Freedom and Mr. A. P. They started on turf for the first time in the Oceanside.
Secured Freedom, winner of the Affirmed Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita on June 15, closed from fifth to pass Mr. A. P. in the final strides.
“I was happy with the effort,” trainer Tim Yakteen said. “I think it was genuine. It gives us some options on how we want to proceed. I had a perfect trip.”
The Oceanside Handicap was the first start for Mr. A. P. since he finished second at 20-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile here last October, a length behind eventual 2-year-old champion Ted Noffey. Mr. A. P., ridden by Joel Rosario on Friday, was fourth early and second on the turn and in early stretch. He was beaten a neck for second place by Secured Freedom.
“It was his first time on the grass,” Rosario said. “He ran really well. He hadn’t run in a while. It looked like he handled the turf.”
Mr. A. P. was the 2-1 favorite.
The remaining order of finish was Bust Out, Iriseach, Jordi Bear, Charlie’s Curlin, Unrivaled Time, Later Than Planned, One More Freud, and Mo Koko.
Proletariat, a gelding by the Dark Angel stallion Raging Bull, has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $209,400 for Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures, the partnership of Ruben Islas and Michele Arthur, and trainer Jeff Mullins.
Last year, Proletariat won his second start in a maiden race at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar in early August. He was third in the Grade 3 Del Mar Juvenile Turf and the Grade 3 Zuma Beach Stakes at Santa Anita, both at a mile, before he given a rest through the late and winter.
The Oceanside Handicap was Proletariat’s second start of 2026. He won an allowance race at six furlongs on turf at Santa Anita on May 15. In the Oceanside, Proletariat carried 119 pounds, three less than highweight Bust Out.
The conditions of the race were changed this year. Previously, it was restricted to 3-year-olds who had not won a purse worth $50,000 or more to the winner at a mile or more in the calendar year in which it was run. The restriction often prevented two-turn stakes winners in the first six months of the year from starting in the Oceanside.