River Boyne ready to add Del Mar Derby to California win streak

DEL MAR, Calif. – Last December, in the opening race of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, River Boyne won a maiden race for 2-year-olds on turf by five lengths in his second American start.

River Boyne has not been beaten in California since.

Four races in California later, River Boyne is a three-time stakes winner and at the fore of the 3-year-old turf division in California entering Sunday’s Grade 2 Del Mar Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf. The $250,000 Del Mar Derby has been targeted for River Boyne by owners Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal since the day after Christmas. River Boyne’s only blemish since then was a fifth in the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs in May on a yielding turf course he did not like, trainer Jeff Mullins said.

River Boyne followed the loss with wins in the Rainbow Stakes at Santa Anita in June and the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar on Aug. 5.

“He bounced right back,” Mullins said.

River Boyne, who will be ridden by Flavien Prat, has displayed a strong rally through the final three furlongs of his races.

“He’s got that high cruising speed and then he just goes,” Mullins said.

River Boyne will be a strong favorite in the Del Mar Derby against a field that includes the stakes winners Pubilius Syrus, Restrainedvengence, Ride a Comet, and Take the One O One.

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KEY CONTENDERS

River Boyne, by Dandy Man
Last 3 Beyers: 93-91-85

◗ River Boyne raced in traffic on the backstretch of the La Jolla Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf, but was clear on the turn, where he launched a three-wide rally.

“I was a little worried when he got bottled up on the backside, but Flavien said he’s too good,” Mullins said.

◗ River Boyne is unbeaten in two starts at 1 1/8 miles on turf – the maiden race and the Rainbow Stakes.

Desert Stone, by Fastnet Rock
Last 3 Beyers: 86-83-79

◗ Desert Stone was fourth, beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Restrainedvengence, in the Oceanside Stakes at a mile on turf July 18, the first day of the summer meeting. Desert Stone had a poor start, and closed from 12th in a field of 14.

“It’s tough when you have a 14-horse field and you go a flat mile,” trainer Richard Baltas said. “You need a trip. You can’t fault the horse.”

◗ Desert Stone won a maiden race at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita in May and followed with a half-length win in an optional claimer at a mile on turf there June 1.

“A mile and an eighth should be good,” Baltas said. “I think he wants a mile and a quarter.”

Arawak, by Uncle Mo
Last 3 Beyers: 90-84-83

◗ Arawak has chased River Boyne and Restrainedvengence in his last three starts, finishing third in the Rainbow, sixth in the Oceanside, and second in the La Jolla.

◗ Rafael Bejarano rode Arawak in the La Jolla and has the mount for the Del Mar Derby.

“I like the continuity,” trainer Doug O’Neill said. “He can be a tricky horse to ride.”

Pubilius Syrus, by Candy Ride
Last 3 Beyers: 90-85-84

◗ The Del Mar Derby will be the first start for Pubilius Syrus since a win in the Baffle Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita last February.

◗ Pubilius Syrus had an excellent finish to his 2-year-old season last year, finishing second in the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes here on turf in November and winning the Eddie Logan Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Dec. 29.

◗ Trainer Vladimir Cerin said he’s worried that Pubilius Syrus might not be fit enough off the layoff in the Del Mar Derby.