Tam Tam powers up late, surges to Pacific Oaks triumph, starts Alvarado's Grade 1 double
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DEL MAR, Calif. - Tam Tam did not feel like the Tam Tam that Junior Alvarado thought he knew through most of Saturday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks.
“She's a filly that likes to pull a little, but she was off the bridle,” Alvarado said. “I didn’t know what to expect when I asked her.”
Alvarado urged Tam Tam on the turn and the filly responded with an effort good enough for her second lucrative stakes win of the summer. Eight weeks after Tam Tam won the $258,500 Tepin Stakes by an eye-catching 5 3/4 lengths at Churchill Downs, Tam Tam won the $302,500 Del Mar Oaks by 1 1/4 lengths.
“She had a good turn of foot turning for home,” Alvarado said. “She saved her energy for the end.”
The second choice in a field of 10, Tam Tam ($7.40) ran 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:48.06.
The Del Mar Oaks was the first of two consecutive wins in Grade 1 races for Alvarado on Saturday. In the following race, Alvarado won the $1 million Pacific Classic on Knightsbridge.
Alvarado had Tam Tam in a stalking position behind pacesetter Kensington Lane, the 8-5 favorite who set an early pace of 24.14 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 48.29 for a half-mile.
Kensington Lane led by as much as two lengths early, but the margin began to dissipate in early stretch. Kensington Lane led by a head with a furlong remaining. By then, Tam Tam was nearing the lead.
Lookin At Diamond, a 40-1 outsider, closed from sixth of 10 to gain second, finishing 1 1/4 lengths in front of Kensington Lane. Lookin At Diamond had her fourth start in the Del Mar Oaks, and was the least experienced filly in the field.
“It’s frustrating to run second in a big race,” said Leonard Powell, who trains Lookin At Diamond. “I lost some training time with her early in the meeting. She wasn’t 100 percent today. She ran a heckuva race.”
Kensington Lane was favored on the strength of a win in her American debut in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks at Saratoga on July 4, her final start for trainer Donnacha O’Brien of Ireland.
Kensington Lane, now trained by Phil D’Amato, set the pace at times in Ireland and was unchallenged in the first half of the Del Mar Oaks under jockey Joel Rosario.
Rosario felt the pressure from Tam Tam in early stretch.
“They were coming and they finished fast,” Rosario said. Kensington Lane “put in a good effort.”
Green Carrera finished fourth, followed by Inbox, Raiding Party, Victorious Dream, Define, Peanutbutterbombe and Wild Like the West.
The Del Mar Oaks was Tam Tam’s fourth win in nine starts for Rigney Racing and trainer Philip Bauer. All of her wins have occurred this year, including the $152,500 Sanibel Island Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf at Gulfstream Park in March.
By Medaglia d’Oro, Tam Tam was purchased for $975,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale. She has earned $648,800.
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