Papacoolpapacool picks up Pereira for Derby
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer Phil D’Amato is hoping a rider change will reverse the fortunes of Papacoolpapacool when the two-time stakes winner starts Sunday in the $250,000 Del Mar Derby.
D’Amato said Tiago Pereira will ride Papacoolpapacool in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby, replacing Gary Stevens. Stevens is not sitting the race out. He is booked to ride Om, the runner-up in the Grade 2 La Jolla Handicap on Aug. 9.
Papacoolpapacool won two minor stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita earlier this year – the Pasadena and La Puente stakes – but has lost his last three starts. In the La Jolla Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf, Papacoolpapacool was fourth, beaten 8 1/2 lengths by Prospect Park, the favorite for the Del Mar Derby.
“We’ll see if it makes a difference to change riders,” D’Amato said. “We’ll take a chance at a mile and an eighth. I don’t think there is a lot of speed.”
Papacoolpapacool races for Ali and Francine Nilforushan and John Snedegar. A gelding by Temple City, Papacoolpapacool has won 4 of 11 starts and earned $209,040.