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Medici Code rallies to Del Mar Derby glory Herrick Racing LLC's MEDICI CODE (GB) (Medicean) rolled to the front inside the final furlong and powered home a three-quarters of a length winner of the $400,000 Del Mar Derby (G2) on Sunday. The sophomore broke alertly and stalked the pace from the outside as Augment (Aptitude) led the field through moderate splits of :24, :48 and 1:12 for the opening six panels. As the field approached the final turn, Worldly (GB) (Selkirk), the 7-2 second choice, inched closer to the pacesetter and took a brief lead in the lane, but was no match for the onrushing winner in the latter stages. Trained by Darrell Vienna and ridden by Martin Pedroza, the gelding got nine furlongs on the firm turf in 1:47 and rewarded his backers with mutuels of $12.60, $7.80 and $5 at 5-1. Augment battled back bravely along the rail late to gain the place at nearly 28-1, yielding $22.20 and $9 completing the $97.80 exacta ($1) in the process. Worldly stayed on for the show another half-length back, and finished off the $520.20 trifecta ($1) while paying $3.40. Unusual Suspect (Unusual Heat) closed mildly to cap the $7,970.80 superfecta ($1) at 50-1, and was trailed by Warning Zone (Chester House), 6-5 choice Stoneside (Ire) (Marchand de Sable), Vauquelin (Ire) (Xaar), Knockout Artist (Exploit), Bleu Intense (Fr) (Kouroun) and Souvenir Slew (Souvenir Copy), who was eased in the stretch after pressing the early pace. The also-eligibles Ten a Penny (Gulch), Star Inside (Ire) (Key of Luck), Yario (Ire) (Danehill Dancer) and Karazi (Swi) (Arazi) were withdrawn. Medici Code began his career at Epsom Downs in England, but it wasn't until he made his sophomore bow in January over Southwell's Fibresand that he earned his first win. Capturing his next two starts, he was then shipped to the United States, running sixth in this stateside debut, the Santa Anita Derby (G1). Switched to the turf, Medici Code just missed by a head in the second division of the Oceanside S. prior to breaking through with a victory in the La Jolla H. (G2) most recently. The chestnut now owns a 10-5-1-0 mark with $361,720 in lifetime earnings. Bred in Great Britain by Mrs. T.A. Foreman, the gelding sold twice, going for $41,480 as a Tattersalls December weanling and then bringing $21,968 as a Doncaster April two-year-old. Medici Code is out of the winning Fairy King mare Fiveofive, who has also produced the Italian stakes-placed Polly Alexander (Ire) (Foxhound).
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