DEL MAR, Calif. – There were 127 winning pick-six tickets at Del Mar on Monday, each worth $9,020.
There was a carryover from Sunday of $297,538, and another $1,583,368 was bet into the pool Monday. It was a fairly formful sequence, with just one horse paying more than 4-1.
Del Mar is closed Tuesday, then returns Wednesday for the closing-day card, featuring the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity. Because it is closing day, mandatory payouts will be in effect on all wagers.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Del Mar’s stewards have had several difficult decisions to make this summer, and they might have had their most challenging on Monday in the Grade 2, $151,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap, in which original winner Egg Drop remained in first after a lengthy inquiry into an incident in deep stretch.
Handsome Jack Flash won the big one for his home state of New Mexico on Monday, when he held off Reagal Eagle and Wagon Tales by a neck in the Grade 1, $2.6 million All American Futurity. He was the lone New Mexico-bred in the Quarter Horse classic run before a record crowd of 24,588 at Ruidoso Downs.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Despite being off for 51 weeks, Taylors Deal came close to equaling the track record for six furlongs at Hastings with an impressive win over Golden Triumph in the $50,000 Express for 3-year-olds and up Monday. The final time of 1:09.54 was just shy of the 1:09.44 standard set by B R Remark in 2008.
Trained by Troy Taylor, Taylors Deal paid $7.30 as a slight favorite over Golden Triumph.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Clenor thrust herself into the main conversation for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf with an authoritative victory Monday in the $100,750 Oak Tree Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar.
Clenor ($3.80) was heavily favored following an impressive win against maidens Aug. 7, and she improved upon that performance Monday. She settled well behind a hot pace in the one-mile race, effortlessly moved into contention on the turn, patiently sat behind the leaders until turning into the stretch, then breezed past them under Rafael Bejarano to win by 3 1/4 lengths.
The heavily favored Senor Rojo ($3.60) rallied along the rail to win the $100,000 Speed to Spare at Northlands Park on Monday. It was Senor Rojo’s second win in the premier race for 3-year-olds and up at Northlands. He won the Speed to Spare in 2011 and last year set the pace before finishing third in the 1 3/8-mile race.
DEL MAR, Calif. – The force was with Jedi Mind Trick, who won his second straight race since being purchased privately when capturing the $150,000 I’m Smokin Stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds on Monday at Del Mar.
Jedi Mind Trick ($12.20) ran down pacesetter Gangnam Guy in deep stretch to prevail by a neck. Ashleyluvssugar was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third, with 4-5 favorite Aotearoa fourth in the field of six. Better Bet and Mondai Mondai trailed.
Victor Espinoza rode Jedi Mind Trick, who completed six furlongs on Polytrack in 1:09.76.
Coming off a disappointing turf try in the Joseph Grace Handicap at Santa Rosa, Positive Response ($9.80) rebounded Monday to wear down pacesetting favorite Hudson Landing in the stretch and win the $53,600 Rolling Green Stakes at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, Calif.
Hudson Landing seemed to be simply jogging early as Positive Response sat behind him. As the field turned for home, Positive Response had no trouble taking the measure of Hudson Landing and holding off the late-running Tribal Tribute.
OCEANPORT, N.J. – Jason Servis liked Ribo Bobo so much, he claimed him twice over the winter at Gulfstream Park.
The trainer’s confidence in the 5-year-old gelding was rewarded when Ribo Bobo extended his winning streak to seven with a five-length win over Immortal Eyes in the $72,750 Icecapade Stakes at Monmouth Park.
The Labor Day card closed out the core portion of the Monmouth season. Racing continues on a two day schedule – Saturdays and Sundays – through Oct. 6.
