Never Be Enough should get nice setup in Kathryn Crosby Stakes

In the six-year history of autumn racing at Del Mar, horseplayers have found backing short prices in the Kathryn Crosby Stakes is not a winning strategy.

Longshot bettors, however, are finding nuggets in the traditional opening-day feature of the fall meet.

The past four winners of the Kathryn Crosby, a restricted race for fillies and mares at a mile on turf, returned $67.80, $39.40, $28, and $36.60.

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Eight entered the $75,000 Kathryn Crosby on Saturday, and the race is loaded with heat. The speed of the speed is Qahira, a dirt sprinter with 22- and 45-second gas. But two turns on turf is new for her, and a trio of front-running turf specialists will keep her honest. She’s Our Charm, Cordiality, and Ellie Arroway make for a potentially crowded front end.

The race sets up for a closer. Pace-pressers Proud Emma, Muchly, and Colonial Creed have been moderately successful rallying from off the front, but the Kathryn Crosby this year is tailor made for Golden Gate-based late-runner Never Be Enough. She arrived Tuesday, and will try to give trainer Manuel Badilla his first Del Mar victory on Saturday.

Badilla, a top-10 trainer in Northern California, has started only seven runners at Del Mar. Perhaps if Never Be Enough was ridden differently in an entry-level turf marathon this summer, Badilla would have won at Del Mar already.

“She was a little mistimed,” Badilla said, which is not uncommon when a jockey rides a horse for the first time. “He didn’t know her, and he made the move too early. She took the lead, and then got nailed.”

Never Be Enough finished fourth under Evin Roman in that 1 3/8-mile turf race, after which Badilla brought her home to win back-to-back allowance races on the synthetic surface at Golden Gate. As for class, Never Be Enough answered that question last out.

“She beat a nice mare,” Badilla said, referring to Sloane Garden, a back-to-back stakes winner this summer for owners Ron Charles and Samuel Gordon. They also own Never Be Enough, a 6-for-26 workhorse who will be ridden Saturday by Tiago Pereira.

Never Be Enough, bred and raced in England prior to being purchased privately early this year, wheels back on relatively short notice. “I know I’m bring her back in 15 days, but this little mare, she’s tough,” Badilla said.

During a short period in summer 2019 in England, Never Be Enough made five starts in 31 days – resulting in a win, two seconds, and a third.

Assuming a strong pace, Never Be Enough can win the Kathryn Crosby as one of the favorites, but it’s not an easy spot. Several Southern California locals have a look.

Qahira finished second last out in the Grade 3 Chillingworth Stakes, a filly-mare dirt sprint. Abel Cedillo rides the Bob Baffert trainee, who is expected to set the pace.

Cordiality won two of her last three starts, all restricted stakes, including the Osunitas at Del Mar in the summer. Drayden Van Dyke rides Cordiality for trainer Tim Yakteen.