Packs a Wahlop seems well suited to stretch-out in Del Mar Juvenile Turf

Packs a Wahlop has not raced beyond five furlongs, but co-owner Tim Cohen said he is not concerned about a stretch-out in distance when the colt runs a mile in Sunday’s Grade 3 Del Mar Juvenile Turf.

“Packs a Wahlop has a super-efficient stride,” Cohen said on Friday. “He covers a lot of ground. It’s amazing to watch.”

In his second start, Packs a Wahlop won a maiden special weight at five furlongs on turf by 1 1/2 lengths at Del Mar on Aug. 5. Mike Smith rode him in that race and is back aboard Sunday.

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Several other runners in a field of 14 in the $100,000 Juvenile Turf had equally encouraging races in their last start.

Ah Jeez and Wound Up won maiden special weight races at five furlongs on turf in August. Don’tthinkjustdoit and Syntactic won maiden special weight races at a mile on turf for California-breds in August.

Dandy Man Shines, owned by Cohen’s Rancho Temescal and his parents’ Red Baron’s Barn, was fourth in a productive running of the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse in England on July 26 in his final start in that country. The Del Mar Juvenile Turf is his first start in the U.S.

“The ultimate goal was to bring him here,” Cohen said. “If he had won the Group 2, he would have stayed. He’s still learning and putting it together. I’m looking forward to seeing what he does here.”

Packs a Wahlop and Dandy Man Shines are trained by Jeff Mullins, who also starts Valiancer.

Cohen said it is difficult to pick between Dandy Man Shines and Packs a Wahlop.

“I think they are my exacta box,” he said. “We’re high on both of them. It wouldn’t be a surprise if one or two is racing at Keeneland in November.”

The Del Mar Juvenile Turf could produce runners for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland on Nov. 4.

Park City and Valiancer also are among the five maidens in the main body of the field.

Ah Jeez closed from third to win a five-furlong maiden race on turf by a convincing 3 3/4 lengths on Aug. 26 at Del Mar. Trained by Doug O’Neill, Ah Jeez drew the rail and is likely to be near the front on Sunday.

“He’s got some good gate speed,” O’Neill said.

Ah Jeez was fourth behind Packs a Wahlop in his first start and added blinkers on Aug. 26.

“I think there was a professional turnaround from his debut when he was green and all over the place and not sure of himself,” O’Neill said. “We added blinkers and he went from boy to man.

“It’s a big ask off the maiden win. He came back and worked lights out. He’s a talented dude.”

The Del Mar Juvenile Turf is the ninth race on an 11-race program that begins at 1 p.m. Pacific. The race is part of the 20-cent Rainbow Pick Six, which has a mandatory payout on Sunday’s final day of the Del Mar summer meeting.