There are a couple of late scratches today:
Race 2 -- #3 Paul's Hope
Race 5 -- # 3 Big Burly Boy and #5 Chief Little Man
Overcast conditions, per usual this week. Pick six begins on race 4 with massive carryover of $846,824. Buena suerte.
08/15/2010
07/28/2010
Woodbine: chalky Deputy Minister Stakes
Race for Gold ($3.20) outgamed another Bob Tiller charge in the stretch, Arepeatee, to take the $126,200 Deputy Minister Stakes. Chantal Sutherland rode Race for Gold for The Very Dry Stable.
Del Mar: Blue Chagall likes the beach turf
Blue Chagall has a penchant for Del Mar's turf course.
In Wednesday's restricted Wickerr Stakes, Blue Chagall ($24) won his second race in four starts on the surface, thanks in part to a ground-saving ride by jockey David Flores. Blue Chagall ran a mile on turf in 1:34.19, finishing 1 1-4 lengths in front of the 9-1 pacesetter Aggie Engineer.
Trainer Julio Canani considered the Wickerr a prep to the $250,000 Del Mar Mile on turf here on Aug. 28. When asked why Blue Chagall prefers Del Mar's turf course, Canani replied, "It's softer."
Woodbine: Husbands off
Patrick Husbands is off his two remaining mounts. Gerry Olguin will ride Appeal to Glory in the 5th, and David Clark will pilot Joey's Best in the 7th.
Del Mar: Bejarano holds off Rosario
Rafael Bejarano and Joel Rosario, who figure to vie for the riding title here this summer, finished a half-length apart in Wednesday's sixth race, when the frontrunner Movie Duty ($6.20) held off a late threat from Word Association.
Movie Duty ran six furlongs in 1:10.21. Through Wednesday's sixth race, Rosario led the standings with 9 wins, two more than Bejarano. Both riders have had two wins on Wednesday, as has Martin Pedroza, who has four wins at the meeting.
Rosario ride Ferneley in the upcoming Wickerr Stakes, and Offlee Wild Boys in the eighth. Bejarano rides Riviera Cocktail in the seventh and Swiss Hero in the eighth.
Del Mar: Three claims in fourth
There was high demand for horses in the $18,000 to $20,000 claiming range from Wednesday's fifth race.
Brother Louie, a 22-1 outsider, finished second by 5 1-2 lengths to California Soldier in the one-mile race, and was claimed by Caesar Dominguez. Ministers Power, who finished third, was claimed in a two-way shake by Steve Knapp. Luv Dragon, who finsihed fifth as the 2-1 favorite, was claimed in a two-way shake by Doug O'Neill.
Del Mar: Warren's Dove scratched from fifth
Warren's Dove was withdrawn from Wednesday's fifth race after he bumped into the rail about six minutes to post time. Warren's Dove was a 16-1 chance at the time of the incident.
According to track stewards, Warren's Dove was withdrawn after suffering a few scrapes in the incident.
Woodbine: off the turf
The 3rd and 4th races are now off the turf. In the 4th, Hanson Heights and the 2 entry are scratched.
Del Mar: Capital Account remains unbeaten
Capital Account, a sharp maiden race winner at Hollywood Park in June, beat winners for the first time in Wednesday's third race over 6 1-2 furlongs.
Capital Account ($2.80) was timed in 1:15.26, leading thoughout and winning by 2 3-4 lengths over stablemate Spaniard. Capital Account, who was ridden by Joel Rosario, set early fractions of 22 50 and 45.50 seconds, and was not challenged.
Trained by Bob Baffert for Thoroughbred Legends Racing Stable, Capital Account cost $330,000 as a yearling at the 2008 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
The race was marred by a fatal injury to Conato, who was pulled up near the quarter-pole with a severe pastern injury.
Capital Account won the first leg of a pick six that attracted a pool of $249,384.
Woodbine conditions
Rain began to fall around 6 p.m., and there's a mild west wind. The portable rail on the turf is in lane 2, and the course is firm for the time being. The Pick 6 carryover is $2,721. The guaranteed pool for the Pick 4, which begins on race 4, is $75K.
