Moonshine Memories drops into softer spot

DEL MAR, Calif. – It’s Take Back the Neighborhood Day!

After the madness and over-the-top nature of Wednesday’s opening-day card at Del Mar, Thursday is, like the local surf breaks, for locals only. The regulars who enjoy the low-key atmosphere, a contrast from the frenetic opener, will be treated to a well-above-average card for a sleepy weekday, with three allowance races and a maiden race among the eight offerings.

And to top it off, last year’s Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante winner, Moonshine Memories, is back at the scene of one of her greatest victories.

Moonshine Memories, a two-time Grade 1 winner at age 2, gets some class relief as she dips into a 6 1/2-furlong allowance race for 3-year-old fillies in race 7 on Thursday. She is in search of her first victory since last year’s Chandelier at Santa Anita. Sprinting at Del Mar looks like a fastball down the middle for her, as she won both her one-turn races at this track last summer.

Moonshine Memories most recently was fourth against top-class Grade 1 company at Belmont Park in the Acorn, which was won by divisional leader Monomoy Girl and from which runner-up Talk Veuve to Me exited to capture the Indiana Oaks last Saturday. A cutback from the Acorn’s one mile should suit Moonshine Memories.

“It feels like the right time to give her a class break before we go back up to graded stakes,” her trainer, Simon Callaghan, said Monday morning, adding that the goal with Moonshine Memories is to use this race as a springboard to the Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress at Saratoga going six furlongs on Sept. 2.

The Acorn was “against the best 3-year-old fillies around,” Callaghan said.

“It’s a deep division, she drew the rail, and the distance was a bit far for her. It wasn’t a bad run for her.”

Seven were entered in the race on Thursday. Moonshine Memories should be a heavy favorite.

KEY CONTENDERS

Moonshine Memories, by Malibu Moon
Last 3 Beyers: 81-80-72

◗ She won the first three starts of her career, but is winless in three starts since.

◗ Her regular rider Flavien Prat is back aboard.

Show It N Moe It, by Grace Upon Grace
Last 3 Beyers: 65-85-87

◗ She finished well back of Moonshine Memories in the Angels Flight on May 12 at Santa Anita, but has been freshened since and returns to a Del Mar dirt surface over which she has never finished worse than third in three starts, including a victory in last summer’s CTBA Stakes.

◗ If she breaks well, she is the likely speed of the race.

Steph Being Steph, by Majestic Warrior
Last 3 Beyers: 75-81-74

◗ Freshened since February, she has finished in the money in four of her five sprints, including a second-place finish behind multiple Grade 1 winner Midnight Bisou in the Santa Ynez.