Velocity ($72) turns in a shocker with Del Mar Oaks upset
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DEL MAR, Calif. - Turns out there is more than the colt Journalism to Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and trainer Michael McCarthy’s roster of 3-year-olds this year.
On Saturday at Del Mar, their filly Velocity recorded a shocking upset for that syndicate and trainer in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks for 3-year-olds fillies at 1 1/8 miles on turf.
Velocity closed from sixth in a field of 11 to win by a half-length over Lush Lips, the 8-5 second choice. Thought Process, the 11-10 favorite, finished third by 1 1/4 lengths after leading in the stretch.
Velocity gave jockey Ricky Gonzalez his first Grade 1 win since Fair Maiden recorded a 20-1 upset in the La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita in December 2020. Gonzalez had Velocity behind the leaders in early stretch when he guided the filly to the inside for the final furlong.
“I had so much horse,” Gonzalez said. “I was hoping for an opening.
“She was there for me. She relaxed very well. She finished up very well.”
Velocity ($72) was timed in 1:48.45 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 87.
Lush Lips, winner of the Tepin Stakes at a mile on turf at Churchill Downs on June 28, closed from seventh to reach contention in the stretch with a wide rally under jockey Tyler Gaffalione.
Tactically, Lush Lips ran to expectations, trainer Brendan Walsh said.
“She ran super,” Walsh said. “It went the way we planned it. We didn’t expect something else to be on the inside. She ran a great race.”
On the turn, Thought Process appeared well positioned for her fourth stakes win. She stalked pacesetter Casulu through a fair pace of 23.22 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.98 for a half-mile. Thought Process took the lead in early stretch, but could not sustain the advantage.
The Del Mar Oaks was the first start at 1 1/8 miles on turf for Thought Process.
“She relaxed well,” jockey Umberto Rispoli said. “I think the last sixteenth was too much. I think she’s a true miler.”
Take a Breath closed from last to finish fourth in her American debut, and was followed by Will Then, Slick, Firenze Flavor, Casalu, Edge of Mali, and Resolve. Striver, at 107-1, was eased.
Velocity, by Nyquist, won her first stakes, and for the third time in her last four starts with the $303,000 Del Mar Oaks. Velocity won her second start, and first race on turf, in a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita on March 29. She was fourth by 1 1/2 lengths in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course on April 27 in her final start of the spring.
Velocity won her Del Mar debut in an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles on turf on July 20.
“She’s had a wonderful couple of weeks down here,” McCarthy said in the winner’s circle.
Velocity has won 3 of 5 starts and earned $274,800.
As for Journalism, a four-time stakes winner this year, he worked a half-mile at Del Mar on Saturday morning, his second major exercise since a win in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 19. Plans for his next start have not been finalized, according to Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.
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