Supah Blitz: West is best
DEL MAR, Calif. - After spending the first 29 starts of his career mostly confined to the East Coast, Supah Blitz found out what everyone eventually does - it's much better at Del Mar.
In his first start in California and since being acquired by a trio of young, aggressive owners, Supah Blitz captured the Grade 2, $250,000 Del Mar Breeders' Cup Handicap by just holding off Domestic Dispute in a thrilling stretch drive.
Supah Blitz took the lead entering the stretch, was up by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining, but was fully extended under Victor Espinoza to hold off Domestic Dispute. During, the 2-1 favorite, was another four lengths back in third.
Supah Blitz ($10.40) covered one mile on the fast main track in 1:35.14. The victory was only his fifth in 30 lifetime starts, but he has finished in the money 21 times and has earned $788,610 during his ambitious campaign.
Espinoza hustled Supah Blitz away from the gate and then sat in third while During and Domestic Dispute sped through an opening quarter-mile in 22.45 seconds. Snorter, who was four paths wide on the first turn, made a premature move down the backstretch to vault from fourth to first under Tyler Baze. Espinoza, meanwhile, continued to sit patiently until the final turn, while keeping Domestic Dispute trapped inside him.
Supah Blitz got first run on Domestic Dispute, and it made the difference in the closing yards.
"I almost got him at the end," said Kent Desormeaux, who rode Domestic Dispute. "He ran too good not to have his picture taken."
Supah Blitz had been trained by Manny Tortora, for whom he ran in the 2003 Kentucky Derby while ridden by Rosemary Homeister Jr. But following a race at Delaware Park last month, trainer Doug O'Neill became aware the horse was for sale. Owners Tom and Jerry Kagele and Mark Leib, who live in Southern California, agreed to privately purchase the 4-year-old colt.
"We bought him two weeks ago today," Leib said in the winner's circle. "Doug O'Neill moved him way through the ceiling."
* Domestic Dispute's nose loss was the only blemish on the day for trainer Paddy Gallagher, who won two other races, including the $125,000 Solana Beach Handicap for California-bred females with Tucked Away ($12). Desormeaux rode the winner, who covered one mile on firm turf in 1:34.92.