Patriots Rule's upset in California Dreamin' triggers $888,207 pick six hit
DEL MAR, Calif. – Patriots Rule, ready to fire off a layoff of 49 weeks, scored a 16-1 upset in the $150,690 California Dreamin’ Stakes on Sunday at Del Mar to help one ticket nail a pick six that paid $888,207.40.
There was a carryover of $167,938 entering Sunday, and another $1,110,327 in fresh money was bet into the pick six. The winning ticket was purchased through Premier Turf Club, an advance-deposit wagering platform that caters to big players.
Patriots Rule ($35.80) trailed in the eight-horse field midway through the 1 1/16-mile grass race for older California-breds, but jockey Joe Talamo was able to guide him between rivals while initially rallying before overhauling Ambitious Brew in deep stretch to win by a half-length.
“I had a beautiful trip,” Talamo said. “He took me there the whole way. I was able to get through at the right time. What a turn of foot he had.”
Boozer was another length back in third and was followed, in order, by favored Alert Bay, Somethings Unusual, Soi Phet, Poshsky, and Avanti Bello.
Patriots Rule completed 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:41.78.
Robertino Diodoro trains Patriots Rule, a 5-year-old gelding by Tribal Rule, for owner Charles Garvey. This was his sixth win in 21 lifetime starts, but his first win in four tries on Del Mar’s turf course, over which he had never finished in the money. He had not raced since last summer here.
Patriots Rule won the Crystal Water for Cal-breds at Santa Anita in June 2015.