Uncorked can pop in heavily conditioned turf sprint
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DEL MAR, Calif. – An old mare is learning a new trick this season in California, and it might produce an overdue victory in the featured seventh race Friday at Del Mar.
Uncorked, a 6-year-old who previously was a turf router, has become a turf sprinter. Based on two runner-up finishes in stakes since shortening up, Uncorked should be tough dropping into an allowance at five furlongs on turf.
Ten fillies and mares are entered in the race, which is restricted to non-winners of three other-than or non-winners of $65,000 since April 29. Uncorked, a four-time winner, is not eligible to the N3X condition, but she qualifies under the second clause. Her most recent win was in spring 2024.
The challenge for Uncorked is to finish the job. Since she won the Grade 3 Royal Heroine a year ago at Santa Anita, Uncorked is 0 for 9 with four runner-up finishes. At least she is getting close. Uncorked missed by a nose last month in a turf sprint stakes at Del Mar.
Uncorked faces a field in which six of the 10 entrants are racing over their conditions. Among those still eligible to N2X are stablemate Home Game, who is making her first start in California and first for trainer Phil D’Amato, who also trains Uncorked.
Others above their conditions Friday are Lovin’ On the Run, Egyptian Mau, front-runner Barbara T, Grade 3 winner Visually, and also-eligible Nay V Belle. The field includes stakes-placed The Wild Grazer, Imaboutago, and Miss Roberts. The turf rails are at 24 feet, nine of the 10 can start.
Uncorked began her career winning one of nine in Australia. Imported to North America, she won twice at Monmouth Park in 2023 for trainer Brittany Russell, then was transferred to D’Amato in California. She won the one-mile Royal Heroine in her first start for D’Amato.
D’Amato long toyed with shortening Uncorked to a sprint, but she kept running well enough in routes to keep trying. She kept missing. Following a next-to-last finish over a good course, Uncorked shortened to a sprint in the Mizdirection Stakes this spring at Santa Anita. She closed from fifth to second in a race dominated by the pacesetter.
The same thing happened next out when Uncorked faced an early season speed bias in Del Mar turf sprints. Pushiness led the Daisycutter Handicap gate to wire, while Uncorked rallied to miss by a nose. A repeat of that effort should be good enough on Friday.
Home Game is a first-time turf wild card. She is by Street Sense, whose progeny can handle turf. The filly’s dam produced My Conquestadory, a Grade 1 winner on synthetic and Grade 1-placed on turf. Home Game has worked fast and commands respect even racing above her eligibility.
The Wild Grazer, Grade 3-placed, makes her first start in more than a year for trainer Jeff Mullins, whose best chance Friday is in race 1. Mullins trains the likely favorite Empress Ellie, who won a similar $25,000 claiming turf mile last out and should repeat in the opener. First post is 3 p.m.
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