Superstition at her best in Del Mar turf sprints
DEL MAR, Calif. – As long as she is sprinting on turf at Del Mar, Superstition is unbeatable.
In the last year, Superstition has won three times in as many starts at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar, a record she has every chance to extend in Friday’s $200,000 Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes for fillies and mares.
In her other eight starts, Superstition has one win, in the restricted Wishing Well Stakes on turf at Santa Anita in February.
Trained by Richard Mandella, Superstition won the Daisycutter Handicap at Del Mar on July 25, closing from fourth to win by 1 1/2 lengths as the 2-1 favorite under jockey Flavien Prat. On Friday, Prat is aboard Superstition for the 11th time in the 4-year-old filly’s 12th start.
Prat traveled to Kentucky Downs on Sept. 11 to ride Superstition in the Grade 3 Ladies Sprint at 6 1/2 furlongs on that unique track’s undulating layout. Superstition finished fourth of 12, beaten 3 1/4 lengths.
“I thought she ran better at Del Mar,” Mandella said. “I think she likes a firm turf course, and she’ll get it.”
The Maddy Stakes drew a field of 10. Superstition, owned by Ramona and Perry Bass, will benefit from course experience against such rivals as A G Indy, Hear My Prayer, and the 2-year-old Thunder Love. The Maddy is the rare race open to 2-year-olds and up.
Hear My Prayer, who starts from the rail, won her California debut in an allowance race at five furlongs on turf here Aug. 26, her first start since February. Hear My Prayer was a minor stakes winner at five furlongs on turf at Gulfstream Park in January.
A G Indy won two five-furlong turf races during the Del Mar summer meeting against open company, but faces a tougher group in the Maddy.
Thunder Love, trained in England by George Boughey, was a troubled fifth in the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on Sept. 10 at Doncaster and last of 12 in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes for fillies on Sept. 25 at Newmarket.
Del Mar has a 10-race program on Friday, including five Breeders’ Cup races on the second half of the card, and four stakes worth $150,000 to $200,000 in the first half of the program.
Qatar Golden Mile
Last month, Degree of Risk was considered a candidate for Friday’s BC Juvenile Turf by trainer Eoin Harty. As the month progressed, the autumn goal for Degree of Risk changed.
Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing owns Degree of Risk and will start the English shippers Albahr and Modern Games in the BC Juvenile Turf. Degree of Risk will run in the $150,000 Qatar Golden Mile for 2-year-olds on turf.
“Godolphin is well represented in the Juvenile Turf,” Harty said.
“On paper, this looks like an easier spot, but they’re not going to give me the check.”
Degree of Risk was third behind Albahr in the Grade 1 Summer Stakes on Sept. 19 at Woodbine. For the Golden Mile, a highly confident Harty will fit Degree of Risk with blinkers for his California debut. Prat rides Degree of Risk for the first time from post 3.
“I’ve got a good post and I’ve got a good pilot,” Harty said. “It’s up to me to not fumble the football.”
The Golden Mile drew a field 10. Nobals won the Arlington-Washington Futurity on Aug. 28 at Arlington Park, while Ready to Purrform won the Laurel Futurity in Maryland on Oct. 2 and is unbeaten after two starts.
Thirty Four Coupe, second in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf on Sept. 6, will be part of what could be a quick pace.
Golden State Juvenile Fillies
At the Spa was undefeated until she started in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 5, a day in which nothing went well for the two-time stakes winner.
At the Spa was fussy in the gate, chased a fast pace, and faded to finish last.
“It was a tough race,” trainer Jorge Periban said. “We tried.”
Nearly nine weeks later, At the Spa starts in Friday’s $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies for statebreds at seven furlongs.
“This is a different class of horse,” Periban said. “I’ve got confidence in her.”
At the Spa won her first three races, including the Fasig-Tipton Debutante at Santa Anita in June and the CTBA Stakes for statebred fillies at 5 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 5 at Del Mar.
Since the CTBA Stakes, the division has changed with the development of fillies such as Big Novel and Big Switch, recent maiden race winners who both run in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies for owner and breeder George Krikorian and trainer John Sadler .
Periban said At the Spa has improved her mental approach recently.
In her only start, Vivacious Vanesssa won a maiden special weight race for 2-year-old statebred fillies at a mile on turf on Oct. 16 at Santa Anita. She was supplemented to this race for $25,000, which allows career-long eligibility to a series of stakes for statebreds.
Golden State Juvenile
Similar to At the Spa, Joker Boy won a stakes against statebreds in the summer, but more recently was unsuccessful in graded stakes, finishing last of seven in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 1 at Santa Anita.
Joker Boy, who won the I’m Smokin Stakes at six furlongs here Sept. 4, drew the rail in the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile for statebred 2-year-olds. Trained by Brian Koriner, Joker Boy will have a new rider in John Velazquez.
Koriner said Velazquez is likely to have Joker Boy near the front in the seven-furlong race.
“It seems like you need to be in contention,” he said. “We’d like to be sent along. The horse is doing really well. I think he’s popped back into form. He was a little flat going to the last race.”
The race drew a field of 13, including three recent maiden race winners who have excellent chances: Billy’s Bet, Fast Draw Munnings, and Slow Down Andy. Slow Down Andy caught the eye with an authoritative run through the stretch of a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs on Oct. 9 at Santa Anita, pulling clear by 4 3/4 lengths.
The Golden State Juvenile is the fourth consecutive stakes appearance for Finneus, who was second in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at six furlongs here Aug. 7 and second in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 6 before finishing sixth in the American Pharoah.