North Pole a hot prospect in Del Mar maiden race
With a seven-figure price tag as a yearling, North Pole will understandably draw attention for his debut in a maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds at 5 1/2 furlongs on Sunday at Del Mar.
This may be a case where the experience will be more valuable and provide a foundation for a late summer or autumn campaign.
“He’s a really nice colt, but he’s going to be two turns in his next start,” trainer Simon Callaghan said Friday. “More than likely, he may not be able to win on debut.
:: DRF's Del Mar headquarters – Stakes schedule, previews, recaps, past performances, and more
“I think we’d be looking to go a mile next time. He’s a good horse, but I don’t know whether he is the type that can win first time out.”
North Pole, a colt by Pioneerof the Nile, was bought for $1,050,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September yearling sale.
:: Get DRF's Betting Strategies for Del Mar's weekend cards
The maiden race drew a field of seven. Trainer Bob Baffert starts Defunded, a colt by Dialed In bought for $210,000 last September, and Man Friday, a colt by American Pharoah bought for $325,000 as a weanling in 2018.
Defunded, who starts from the rail, worked five furlongs in 59.60 seconds last Sunday for his debut. He figures to be strongly supported and will be ridden by Abel Cedillo.