Stay Hot ends Eurton's skid with La Jolla victory

DEL MAR, Calif. – The Del Mar summer meeting came alive for trainer Peter Eurton on Sunday in the seconds Stay Hot needed to close from last to first in the La Jolla Handicap on turf.

Stay Hot was Eurton’s first winner with his 20th starter of the season, which began July 20.

“Considering the way the first two weeks have gone, that was a nice day, especially with him,” Eurton said Monday.

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The win gave the stable a late summer goal. Stay Hot is likely to return for the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf Sept. 1.

“We have a lot to look forward to with the Derby,” Eurton said. “Hopefully, no beasts ship in. He looks kind of beasty to me.”

Stay Hot won his fourth stakes since early December in the La Jolla, for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles. The result was a reversal of a last-place finish in the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes on May 4 at Churchill Downs. Eurton feared Stay Hot would lose at Churchill Downs, considering he struggled with traveling away from Southern California for a race for the first time.

“It was the shipping,” Eurton said. “He didn’t ship well. He fretted all the time. He got hot all the time. I can’t say for sure it was the course.

“Yesterday, he was a cool cat himself.”

On Aug. 17, Eurton plans to run Medoro in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks. She was beaten for the first time in her fifth start when third in the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap on July 20.

Plans are less clear for Exaulted, a two-time stakes winner in 2023 who has lost his first two starts this year. The Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on turf on Aug. 31 is a possibility, if Exaulted trains well in coming weeks.

“We still have some things to figure out,” Eurton said. “He’ll have to tout us pretty good.”

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