Tranquility Lake one of last hurrahs for Mended

DEL MAR, Calif. – From a low-level claimer to a stakes winner and graded stakes-placed, Mended has been one of the remarkable stories of the past two years. But her incredible career is likely coming to an end, so if you want to see this popular mare, it might be best to get to Del Mar on Friday, when she takes on the likes of Grade 1 winner Vale Dori in the $75,000 Tranquility Lake Stakes for fillies and mares.

After winning 10 straight races last year while racing almost every month, Mended has had her races more carefully spaced this year, and earlier this meet trainer John Martin said she was nearing the end of her racing career. She has raced four times in 2018 and has yet to win, but has never finished out of the money, and was good enough to finish second in the Grade 1 Santa Margarita at Santa Anita earlier this year.

The Tranquility Lake will be the first start for Mended since July 5, when she was second in the Iowa Distaff at Prairie Meadows. She has been at Del Mar all summer and will take her lone shot this meet on Friday.

The Tranquility Lake, at one mile, drew a field of seven, most notably Vale Dori, who is seeking her first win of the year after three losses and does not seem the presence she was last year, when she won 4 of 6, with both losses narrow defeats against the champion Stellar Wind.

The intriguing newcomer is Way to Versailles, who may be on the way up while catching some rivals who are past their prime. She is making her first start on dirt and only her second try around two turns, but her current form is razor sharp.

The Tranquility Lake goes as race 7 on an eight-race card that begins at 3:30 p.m. Pacific. That will be the starting time both this week and on the final Friday of the meet next week.

KEY CONTENDERS

Mended, by Broken Vow
Last 3 Beyers: 76-91-91

◗ She owns two wins in three starts at Del Mar.

◗ Her regular rider, Ricardo Gonzalez, will fly in for the mount.

Vale Dori, by Asiatic Boy
Last 3 Beyers: 86-82-85

◗ After returning from a nine-month layoff, she has failed to produce the high-class form she had throughout 2017, but she loves Del Mar, where she has never finished worse than second in four starts.

◗ Drayden Van Dyke tries his luck on Vale Dori for the first time.

Way to Versailles, by Tizway
Last 3 Beyers: 94-84-79

◗ All her starts have been on synthetic or turf, but she’s bred perfectly fine for dirt and may have found an opportunistic spot to prove she can handle it.