Speed the theme on Del Mar Thursday card
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DEL MAR, Calif. – An unraced 2-year-old maiden and an experienced 3-year-old allowance filly will employ the same attribute in separate turf sprints Thursday at Del Mar – speed.
First-time starter Eisenhower is believed to be fast, and will need his speed to win the maiden turf sprint for 2-year-olds. There is no guesswork about Itzel. An established front-runner, if she wins the allowance while facing older for the first time, she will do it her way, by setting the pace.
The speedsters Eisenhower in race 1 and Itzel in race 5 are the key turf sprinters Thursday when the rails move to the outermost 30-foot setting. The Thursday card also includes two allowance routes – race 4 favorite Big Novel faces Cal-bred fillies and mares at a mile on dirt; race 7 front-runner Burnin Turf will try to steal the second-level allowance/optional-claiming turf mile.
Race 1 rookie Eisenhower is a full brother to Grade 1-winning turf miler Annapolis, but trainer Richard Mandella expects Eisenhower will be effective running short. “He’s built like a fast horse, and he trains that way,” Mandella said. “We’ve never really asked him for much, and he does everything real easy. We’ve got high hopes.”
The five-furlong turf sprint is more than a one-horse race. Ryan Hanson-trained stablemates Rastaman Vibe and Osage Creek both look live. First-timer Rastaman Vibe flashed speed from the gate in his final work; Osage Creek finished an even-paced fourth in his career debut and should improve second out. Dark Vintage finished third in his debut at Belmont Park.
Race 5, an entry-level allowance turf sprint for fillies and mares, also centers on speed. Itzel is facing older after a series of races against 3-year-old fillies. The company is tougher, but the distance is ideal. Itzel, second in both recent starts at six furlongs, shortens to five furlongs Thursday.
“She’s very fast,” trainer Peter Miller noted. “The distance should be good, the draw is fine. If someone goes crazy, we can sit off them.”
Itzel drew post 8. Eight can start with the rails out at the maximum setting.
Miller also entered American Heights, who returned to California last month after a Midwest campaign. She will be making her first start for Miller. Other contenders in the allowance turf sprint include Denim in Golden, Hayley Levade, route-to-sprint Linda’s Gift, and M is For Magic. Win or lose, Itzel is the one to catch.
Race 4 likely favorite Big Novel stretches out following an odds-on runner-up sprint comeback. “She’s better long,” trainer John Sadler said.
Prior to her comeback, multiple Cal-bred stakes-placed Big Novel underwent a corrective throat procedure. Thursday is her second start back; her main rival is Eleuthera. Madiha and Dendera also are entered.
Race 7 likely pacesetter Burnin Turf drops in class and stretches to two turns for the first time since a front-running dirt-route victory in January 2022. The 7-year-old Burnin Turf, who has won five of 17, is entered for the optional claim price. His rivals include Tiz Plus, Dancing Rinca, and Eastern Ocean.
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