Sweezey brings eight-horse barn to Del Mar

The roster of eight horses trainer Kent Sweezey brought to Del Mar for the summer meeting is likely to change in the next few months.

Sweezey, 38, will race at Del Mar for the first time this year, and said on Thursday that his stable consists mostly of claiming-class horses that race on dirt. He said he will not be surprised if some runners are claimed, and that he plans to be active in claiming horses.

“We’ll try to be pretty aggressive,” he said. “I’ve got some new guys that want to claim.”

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A majority of the current runners are owned by Rachel Gerson’s Starry Night Racing, including the 2-year-old maiden Deeply Hidden, who starts in Saturday’s second race.

Sweezey has been based at Churchill Downs and Monmouth Park in recent months, and has won five races at the current Monmouth Park meeting through Wednesday.

Deeply Hidden was winless in three starts at Churchill Downs in May and June, including two second-place finishes. On Saturday, Deeply Hidden is part of a field of six that includes the first-time starter Getaway Car, and Dr Ruben M, who was second by a nose as the 3-2 favorite in his debut in a five-furlong maiden race on turf at Santa Anita on June 13.

Doug O’Neill trains Dr Ruben M.

Getaway Car, a colt by Curlin purchased for $700,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September yearling sale, is trained by Bob Baffert and has worked quickly in recent weeks at Santa Anita.

While Sweezey has not had a runner at Del Mar in the past, he is familiar with racing on the circuit. He spent time as an assistant to trainer Eoin Harty at Del Mar.

“Del Mar was a blast, and it was the highlight of the year,” he said, recalling those years. “It’s a little different when they’re running under your name.

“Hopefully, they’ll fit out there.”

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