Tyler Conner shifts tack to Southern California

DEL MAR, Calif. – Being leading rider at Penn National this year left Tyler Conner wanting more.

Earlier this week, Conner relocated to Southern California, and he will have his first mount at Del Mar on Sunday when he rides Ippodamia’s Girl in the sixth race, for 2-year-old maidens.

The 23-year-old Conner, who spent his first morning in the Del Mar stables on Friday, said the move is permanent.

“I wanted to ride good horses,” Conner said. “I didn’t want to get stuck. I decided I’d give it a shot.”

Conner, who began his career in 2014, has won 491 races and left Penn National with a 20-race advantage in the standings. Twice this year he has had four-win days, and three times has posted three wins in a single day.

Conner has won 133 races this year, plenty of them on claiming horses, but has not had a stakes win since Item won the Maryland Million Lassie at Laurel last October.

In California, Conner will be represented by veteran jockey’s agent Jim Pegram, and plans to ride at the three-week Los Angeles County Fair meeting at Los Alamitos that begins on Thursday, and then the Santa Anita autumn meeting.

Ippodamia’s Girl could give Conner an immediate boost. The filly recently joined trainer Mike Puype’s stable after finishing second in her debut in a maiden race on turf at Ellis Park on Aug. 5.

Ippodamia’s Girl is part of a strong field. Alluring Star, bought for $850,000 at the Ocala Breeders Sales Co.’s auction of 2-year-olds in training in March, will have her debut. She is trained by Bob Baffert, who also starts the first-time runner Thirteen Squared, who is out of the multiple stakes winner House of Fortune.

Sunday’s final race is a maiden race for 2-year-olds at mile on turf. The race drew 14, but only 10 are allowed to start. Of the 14, 12 are first-time starters.

This will be the debut for Bitter Ring Home, Spanish Bay, and Shane Zain.

Bitter Ring Home, bought for $160,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale, is a Lemon Drop Kid colt trained by Neil Drysdale.

Spanish Bay has impeccable bloodlines. Trained by Richard Mandella, Spanish Bay is by top stallion Tapit and is out of Dubai Escapade, who won three graded stakes in 2006, including the Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga.

Shane Zain, who drew the rail, is a colt by Medaglia d’Oro who is trained by Doug O’Neill and was bought for $370,000 at the 2016 Keeneland September yearling sale.