Packs a Wahlop surprises in Del Mar Juvenile Turf

DEL MAR, Calif. - Throughout Sunday’s Grade 3 Del Mar Juvenile Turf at a mile, Packs a Wahlop raced near the front, tracking pacesetter Ah Jeez.

The forward strategy utilized by jockey Mike Smith not only resulted in Packs a Wahlop avoiding the trouble in the stretch that affected several runners, but allowed the promising colt to record an upset win.

Packs a Wahlop was clear at the wire by 4 1/4 lengths, winning his stakes debut and first start at a mile with ease.

“He’s a talented colt and he did it very handy,” Smith said.

Packs a Wahlop ($18) was timed in 1:35.96 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 74.

Don’tthinkjustdoit finished second, but was demoted and placed seventh in a field of 14 for causing interference in the stretch. Don’tthinkjustdoit, racing on the inside under jockey Hector Berrios, drifted out with a furlong remaining, disrupting the stretch run of several rivals.

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Following the disqualification, Valiancer (38-1) was promoted to second, while 4-1 favorite Dandy Man Shines was promoted to third. The first three finishers in the revised order of finish are trained by Jeff Mullins.

The remaining order of finish was Ah Jeez, De la Luna, Wound Up, Mas Rapido, Syntactic, Stone Point, Tahoma, Park City and Ti Sento. President Z was racing at the back of the field when he was pulled up on the backstretch. President Z was walked back to the stands to be unsaddled with the other runners.

Ah Jeez set a solid early pace of 23 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.24 for a half-mile before fading. He finished 5 3/4 lengths behind Packs a Wahlop.

Smith rode Packs a Wahlop for Red Barons Barn and Rancho Temescal. Smith was aboard Packs a Wahlop when the colt won his California debut in a maiden special weight race at five furlongs on turf on Aug. 5 in a similar style as his win on Sunday, stalking the pace to early stretch.

Through August, Smith rode Packs a Wahlop in workouts and said on Sunday that the experience had its benefit.

“I worked him every time and I felt like I knew him,” he said.

Packs a Wahlop, a colt by Creative Cause, was purchased for $270,000 at a 2-year-olds in-training sale in April. Packs a Wahlop was fourth of seven in a maiden special weight race on a sealed and sloppy track at Gulfstream Park in his debut on June 3.

The colt has earned $110,000 in three starts.