Shady Stripes adds blinkers, moves to turf off solid debut
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DEL MAR, Calif. – A pair of maidens adding blinkers, and allowance fillies and mares changing surfaces, are key starters in three separate California-bred races on a quiet Thursday at Del Mar.
The maidens Shady Stripes in race 2 and Ya’ll Come in race 5 add blinkers to increase focus. Sharp Ride returns to preferred dirt footing in race 7; turf winner Young Love will experiment on dirt in the same race. Sharp Ride holds the edge on figures; Young Love holds the edge on pace.
Race 2 is a turf sprint for 2-year-old maiden fillies, and Shady Stripes looks tough based on her runner-up debut. That race was won by Liberation, who in her next start Aug. 3 broke slowly, got squeezed, clipped heels, and finished fourth over the wire as the odds-on favorite in the CTBA Stakes.
Shady Stripes faces easier Thursday, and trainer Jeff Bonde will heed the recommendation of jockey Armando Aguilar regarding blinkers after the filly was distracted in her debut.
“She was kind of waiting and looking, so we thought they’d give her more attention,” Bonde said.
Shady Stripes might be the speed of the field over a course that has been kind to front-runners. Through Sunday, 12 of 18 turf sprints this meet were won by runners positioned one-two at the first pace call. Shady Stripes will contest the pace, but she has never raced nor worked on turf.
“She doesn’t have a terrible [Tomlinson] turf number, and [Smiling Tiger progeny] are pretty versatile, so we’re taking a shot,” Bonde said. “She’s been doing very well.”
Shady Stripes’s rivals include fast-working first-time starter Midnight Cowgirl and front-running second-time starter Too Sassy. Favorites have won 50 percent of turf sprints this summer, a trend Shady Stripes will try to extend as the 8-5 program favorite.
Race 5 is a dirt sprint for California-bred maidens, 3-year-olds and up. Ya’ll Come, with blinkers on, is the 2-1 favorite after beginning his career with a pair of creditable third-place finishes. Trainer Dean Pederson hopes blinkers will make Ya’ll Come run straight on Thursday.
“He’s always shying away from horses,” Pederson said, explaining the reason for blinkers. The problem Thursday is Ya’ll Come drew the rail, which is 0 for 14 this meet at six furlongs. A gelding by Smiling Tiger, Ya’ll Come will be ridden by Abel Cedillo. He is hardly a cinch.
Rivals for Ya’ll Come include comeback first-time gelding Brunchandcrunch and first-time starters Salient and Crime Lord.
Race 7 is an allowance/optional-claiming dirt sprint for California-bred fillies and mares. Seven entered; rail-drawn Lady Gregory is not a confirmed starter. Sharp Ride, who misfired last out on turf, returns to dirt while entered for the $20,000 optional-claiming tag. She won her last two starts on dirt.
Young Love won back-to-back turf sprints for trainer Peter Miller, who is banking on a moderate pace in a field short on speed. Miller said Young Love “trains good on the dirt, and it’s a short field.” Juan Hernandez rides Young Love.
Others entered in race 7 include Lady Maryann, Blue Wildcat, Eltonsingsanother, and Danzingwith Maxine.
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