DEL MAR, Calif. – There were no Breeders’ Cup trophies for trainer Phil D’Amato at Del Mar last weekend, only a haul of $1 million in earnings. From eight starters, the best D’Amato’s team could do was finish second in three races.
D’Amato, a perennial leading trainer in Southern California, watched Vodka With a Twist (Juvenile Fillies), Iron Man Cal (Juvenile Turf), and Motorious (Turf Sprint) finish second. Gold Phoenix was fourth in the Turf for the second consecutive year.
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority has told the Arizona Department of Racing that it is prepared to initiate an “enforcement action” against Turf Paradise if the track is allowed to proceed with the opening of its meet on Saturday, citing ongoing concerns with the condition of its dirt racing surface.
DEL MAR, Calif. – One day before Thorpedo Anna starts favored in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar, her half-brother McAfee is scheduled to make his debut in a 2-year-old maiden race at Churchill Downs.
McAfee, a colt by Cloud Computing, is a longshot in race 10 Friday at Churchill, but perhaps bettors should disregard McAfee’s 12-1 morning line and simply bet him blind. After all, the first two runners from broodmare Sataves also outran their debut price.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby’s foray into extended American racing during 2024 turned out, as you might expect, pretty damned good.
Appleby, based in England much of the year and in Dubai during the winter, ran an American string beginning in April at Keeneland. The horses then moved onto New York, with those still in the country reassembling at Keeneland, several for a trip to Del Mar for Breeders’ Cup races.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Pandora’s Gift was scratched from Saturday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint after she was sold at Wednesday night’s inaugural Keeneland Championship sale, held in the Del Mar paddock.
Pandora’s Gift was purchased for $850,000 by LSU Stables and will be turned over to trainer Christophe Clement. She was previously owned and trained by Stuart Williams.
DEL MAR
Oct. 31
Weather: Clear
Temperature: 52
Track: Fast
DEL MAR, Calif. - Thursday was the coolest morning yet on the Breeders’ Cup watch at Del Mar with the temperature holding in the low 50s throughout training hours. And everybody was putting the finishing touches, in one form or another, to preparations for this year’s Championship races.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Much has changed for jockey Drayden Van Dyke since he last rode at Del Mar in September 2023.
Van Dyke took an extended break from riding at the end of 2023, and returned to action at Santa Anita earlier this year. When he struggled to gain traction, Van Dyke relocated to Gulfstream Park in early June where he has found a place among the top 10.
DEL MAR, Calif. - There are some mornings Believing does not feel like being a racehorse. There are other afternoons when Believing is among Europe’s best sprinters.
Believing, the winner of two stakes in Britain this year, starts in one of the richest races of her career in Saturday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at five furlongs.
Trained by George Boughey for the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing syndicate, Believing starts from the inside in a full field of 12. From that draw on a firm turf course, Boughey hopes Believing can be a factor as a stalker.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Fourteen years ago, trainer Graham Motion saddled Shared Account to upset the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at 46-1.
In the 2024 edition, Motion trains longshot Beach Bomb, who is listed at 20-1 on Del Mar’s morning line.
Bred in South Africa and owned by Gaynor Rupert’s Cayton Park Stud, Beach Bomb was a multiple Group 1 winner in her homeland before being shipped along with 11 other South African-based horses to North America earlier this year.
DEL MAR, Calif. – On day 2 of the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, two trainers will attempt to do something they’ve never done while two trainers will attempt to continue to do what they’ve always done.
