Oceanside runners in possible prep for Del Mar Derby
There were times in the final sixteenth of the Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar on July 16 that Crew Dragon and Hockey Dad each looked like an upset winner.
Hockey Dad, who was 19-1, set the pace before finishing fourth by a half-length. Crew Dragon (6-1) surged in the final furlong to finish second, a head behind Flashiest.
Hockey Dad and Crew Dragon could have started in Sunday’s Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap, but instead will appear in an allowance race for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf on Thursday. The allowance is designed as a prep for the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 4.
Crew Dragon, trained by John Sadler for Hronis Racing, closed from seventh in the Oceanside Stakes at a mile under jockey Umberto Rispoli, who has the mount on Thursday. The addition of a small set of blinkers for the first time in Thursday’s race is designed to ensure that Crew Dragon stays focused.
Rispoli “said that he idled a little bit when he got in front,” Sadler said of the Oceanside. “He did everything but win. He’s strictly the horse to beat.”
Sadler also starts Numero Dix, a recent French import owned by Rockingham Ranch. This is the first time that Rockingham Ranch has had horses with Sadler, according to Rockingham racing advisor Kim Lloyd.
Numero Dix won his debut in a maiden at six furlongs on turf at Chantilly last September, and was later fifth, second, and sixth in allowance races on all-weather tracks at Chantilly and Deauville last year and in February and March of this year. Thursday’s race is Numero Dix’s first start since March.
“He looks like he’ll need a run,” Sadler said.
Sadler has a strong group of 3-year-old turf candidates, including Santa Anita Derby winner Rock Your World, also a stakes winner on turf, and Sword Zorro, who finished first in the La Jolla, but was disqualified and placed third for causing interference.
Hockey Dad led by a length early in the Oceanside and was challenged through the final half-mile. He broke from the outside in a field of 12 in that race and has drawn the rail in Thursday’s allowance race.
“From the 12 hole, I thought he ran lights out,” trainer Doug O’Neill said. “I know it’s hard to win here on the lead.”
With the rail draw on Thursday, Hockey Dad is likely to be back in front.
“I would see him being forwardly placed,” O’Neill said.
The race drew 13, but will have only nine starters. The temporary inner turf rails are set 30 feet from the permanent position, which reduces the maximum field. Two horses on the also-eligible list – Mohawk King and Optimistic Valor – have excellent chances if they draw into the field.
Mohawk King was a game second in a similar race at 1 1/16 miles on turf July 17. Optimistic Valor won a $40,000 claimer in a turf mile on July 23.
This race will be the first start against winners for War Machine, a maiden race winner at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf at Woodbine on July 10 in his first start of the year. War Machine stalked the pace and won by a nose.
“We put him on the plane at the last minute,” trainer Mike Stidham said last weekend. “We thought, why not run him? We think a lot of him.”