O'Neill prepping pair for stakes
ARCADIA, Calif. – Between them, I’ll Wrap It Up and Sammy Mandeville made six starts at Del Mar during the summer, with the highlights being second- and third-place finishes in the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap on Aug. 9.
Doug O’Neill, who trains both horses, is using an optional claimer at Santa Anita on Thursday as a prep for them to the $200,000 Twilight Derby over 1 1/8 miles on Oct. 31.
“They’re both nice 3-year-olds,” O’Neill said. “They are the types that are getting better with each run.”
I’ll Wrap It Up and Sammy Mandeville are part of a field of 10 in Thursday’s race, which is for 3-year-olds over a mile on turf. The race drew one stakes winner in Patriots Rule, who won the E.B. Johnston Stakes at Los Alamitos on Sept. 5.
KEY CONTENDERS
I’ll Wrap It Up (Last 3 Beyers: 85-91-78)
◗ I’ll Wrap It Up is winless in nine races since beating maidens at Hollywood Park last December.
◗ He has run on turf in six consecutive starts since May and was beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Enterprising in the La Jolla Handicap.
◗ On Aug. 30, I’ll Wrap It Up was third of nine in an allowance race over 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar.
◗ O’Neill said that I’ll Wrap It Up’s best asset is his speed, which could help his chances Thursday.
◗ The turf rails will be set 24 feet from the permanent position, a situation often favorable to horses running near the pace.
◗ “He has a high cruising speed,” O’Neill said. “If all goes well, he’ll break well and be forwardly placed.”
Sammy Mandeville (Last 3 Beyers: 85-90-90)
◗ After finishing 1 3/4 lengths behind Enterprising in the La Jolla, Sammy Mandeville was fourth in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby over 1 1/8 miles, finishing 4 1/2 lengths behind the winner, Midnight Storm.
◗ O’Neill said a lack of pace hurt Sammy Mandeville’s kick in the Del Mar Derby.
◗ Owned by W.C. Racing, Sammy Mandeville has one win in six starts, a maiden race on turf at Santa Anita in May.
Patriots Rule (Last 3 Beyers: 79-91-84)
◗ Trained by Robertino Diodoro, Patriots Rule was second and third in turf stakes for California-breds at Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields in the spring and a troubled ninth in the Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar on July 17.
◗ A closer, Patriots Rule was 4-5 in the E.B. Johnston, and he caught Eddie’s First at the wire to win by a nose.