Prospect Park class of Del Mar Derby
DEL MAR, Calif. – For top-class 3-year-olds at Del Mar this summer, the graded stakes options are to either try turf or face elders in a race like the Pacific Classic. Marty Wygod, who bred and owns Prospect Park along with his wife, Pam, wanted to try turf with Prospect Park. Based on his win last month in the La Jolla Handicap, that decision has widened the horizon for Prospect Park.
Prospect Park already had proven in the spring that he could perform admirably on dirt against the elite 3-year-olds on the West Coast, but his overpowering victory in the La Jolla makes him a standout as he goes for a second straight grass win in the Grade 2, $250,000 Del Mar Derby, part of an eventful card here on Sunday.
The Del Mar Derby, at 1 1/8 miles, goes as race 7 on a 10-race card that also includes the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon for female grass runners and the CERF Stakes for female sprinters. And midway through the card, American Pharoah, the Triple Crown winner, will be paraded between races, the lone afternoon appearance he will make at the track where he has trained all summer.
Prospect Park should be a heavy favorite in the Del Mar Derby. He benefits by going 110 yards farther than in the La Jolla, and half of his six rivals are horses he just dominated in the La Jolla.
“I just think he outclassed those horses,” said his trainer, Cliff Sise Jr. “Just look at what he ran against earlier this year.”
Indeed, Prospect Park was second to Dortmund in the San Felipe Stakes, then was fourth in the Santa Anita Derby. After a two-month break, he lost two narrow decisions to Gimme Da Lute, who has since won two more stakes here.
As if Prospect Park needed any more help, he figures to get a perfect stalking trip, with the pacesetting Om – second in the La Jolla – his lone target. And he carries the same weight as his rivals in this race after spotting them weight in the La Jolla.
Prospect Park worked twice on turf prior to the La Jolla and has had one work on the grass since. Sise said jockey Kent Desormeaux told him, “He works the same on turf as on dirt.”
KEY CONTENDERS
Prospect Park (Last 3 Beyers: 99-102-97)
◗ He chased a moderate pace in the La Jolla but turned on the jets down the stretch and flew home.
Sise said that Prospect Park “was a little thin last time.”
“He was starting to gain weight just before the race,” he added, “and I think he’s gained weight since that race. I think he’s going into this race better than his last.”
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Om (Last 3 Beyers: 90-93-90)
◗ Best known as the horse who won the race in which American Pharoah made his debut, he looks like the controlling speed in this race, but he’s twice failed to last at 1 1/16 miles, and this will be his first time at 1 1/8 miles.
◗ He is switching to Gary Stevens for the first time.
Soul Driver (Last 3 Beyers: 91-94-81)
◗ He won the Oceanside Stakes on opening day July 16, then was purposely kept out of the La Jolla to point for this race.
◗ He unleashed a furious rally to win going one mile last time, and though he figures to be a late factor again, Prospect Park has more tactical speed, so he’ll have to run him down.
Crittenden (Last 3 Beyers: 85-85-86)
◗ He finished fifth last time out in the Secretariat Stakes at Arlington, which was run during a deluge.
“The past performances say the turf was firm, but it was far from firm,” his trainer, Eoin Harty, said Friday at Del Mar. “When we were in the paddock, all hell broke loose. Conditions went south quickly. He didn’t care for it.”
◗ One thing Harty knows for sure is he’ll get firm ground here on Sunday.
“I expect he’ll run really well,” Harty said.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Win the Space. Trainer George Papaprodromou is 10-3-2-1 with a $12.52 ROI over the past two years with horses coming off a maiden win.Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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