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DEL MAR NOTEBOOK JULY 21, 2009 by John Mucciolo On Wednesday, the doors open for the 70th season of business at one of the most picturesque meetings in the United States, when the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club kicks off its 37-day run. The ocean-hugging racetrack brings the best in the West and some from abroad, and nothing beats the atmosphere in La Jolla, California. The track is a fun place for people of all ages to hang out. Del Mar will run through September 9. A total of 19 graded races are set to be held, nine of the Grade 1 variety, including the marquee event of the summer, the $1 million Pacific Classic S. (G1) on September 6. The opening weekend headliner is the $350,000 Eddie Read S. (G1), pitting some of the best turf performers in the Golden State going 1 1/8 miles. This will be the third season of racing over the Polytrack oval. The surface was re-configured after the initial season, which resulted in faster times during the afternoons, but early speed didn't play as well in sprints in 2008 as it did the year before. However, handicappers across the nation know that this surface can be a bit of a mystery in the early stages of a meeting, so we'll be paying close attention the first couple of days to see if there are changes from last year. The most particular trend, or bias, that we have noticed over this most unique main strip is not just speed versus closing types, it is post position and what path winning horses are traveling on throughout the race. On numerous occasions last season, horses running wide held an advantage in the stretch; there will surely be times when this happens in 2009. Watch to see how horses fare along the rail during the first week of racing. We've highlighted some of the human entities, as well as six exciting horses, that should be prominent over the next two months, below. Jockeys Rafael Bejarano has become a dominant force on the West Coast since arriving a few years back, and the standout Peruvian pilot seems poised to challenge for the title once again in 2009. The defending champ bagged a meet high 43 winners last year, hitting at a 20 percent clip along the way, and picked up his 2,000th win as a jockey earlier in the month. Joel Rosario picked up his first riding title at the recent Hollywood meet and finished second at Del Mar in 2008 with 34 first-place finishers. The rising star picks up a lot of mounts from top trainer John Sadler, among others, and his strong finishing style should have him competing for this trophy yet again. Garrett Gomez likely would have finished in the top two last season if not for riding many fewer horses than his counterparts, and the Eclipse Award winner is in high demand across the nation. Gomez rides a lot of good horses for good horsemen at Saratoga and other tracks, but if he sticks around for most weekends at Del Mar, he could be the one to beat in this race. Tyler Baze had 32 winners in 2008, tied for third and 16 better than the next jockey, and if he can duplicate that effort it would be an impressive feat. Trainers Sadler had an incredible meet last summer, running away with the trainers' title when sending out 30 winners. Sadler amazingly had 50 percent of his numerous runners finish first or second, with a 59 percent in-the-money rate. Doug O'Neill unveiled a handful of impressive juveniles at Hollywood Park and should be a force in this race on numbers alone, as he often fills the entry box every day. The veteran dominated the trainers' race at Hollywood and is the favorite among his peers. Mike Mitchell seemingly always has success here, and while his stable is not big enough to win this race, he will surely have multiple winners, especially with grass performers. Carla Gaines was extremely quiet at Hollywood, but we know that this sharp horsewoman is incredibly streaky, and we expect her to come flying out of the gate at this meeting. Recent Hall of Fame inductee Bob Baffert is no stranger to Del Mar training titles, as the 56-year-old conditioner won the crown in succession from 1997 to 2003. While the Baffert shedrow cannot match the quantity of some of its counterparts, the silver-haired trainer has a ton of class in his barn, and his biggest impact will be seen in the stakes and juvenile ranks. His horses have been running well lately. Horses The top name in California right now is the unbeaten dynamo ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]), who has toyed with her division for two years under the tutelage of John Shirreffs. The sterling five-year-old should make at least one appearance at this meet, with plans calling for her to defend her title in the August 9 Clement L. Hirsch S. (G1). Hopefully, she'll be seen in the Pacific Classic against the boys. MAGICAL FANTASY (Diesis [GB]) is inching her way to the top of the turf distaff division, and the Paddy Gallagher charge put herself on the map with a sharp score in the Del Mar Oaks (G1) last summer. LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike) was super-impressive in his winning debut for Baffert, and we have high hopes for the juvenile colt. Midshipman (Unbridled's Song), the 2008 Eclipse Award-winning juvenile, had his coming-out party at Del Mar, and we're expecting something similar with this well-meant two-year-old. While it's possible not many remember the Richard Mandella-trained CROWN OF THORNS (Repent), who hasn't raced since taking the Robert B. Lewis S. (G2) in February of 2008, the colt remains etched in our minds. The now four-year-old was potentially the top sophomore on the West Coast last campaign, and he seems close to returning to action after posting a series of steady works since early June. We hope he returns in top form at Del Mar. I'LL SHOW THEM (Smarty Jones) got a late start to his career for conditioner David Hofmans, but the well-bred three-year-old looks like a serious animal after a pair of visually impressive tallies to begin his career. A winner on the main oval and turf, the colt has an infinite ceiling and appears capable of anything at this stage of his development. NECESSARY EVIL (Harlan's Holiday) has dusted a pair of fields to begin her career for O'Neill, including a three-length romp in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship S. (G3) versus the boys last out. She might be special. Opening day Wednesday's Oceanside S., a one-mile turf test for three-year-olds, is the opening-day feature, and it won't be split into divisions for the first time in 21 years. A well-matched field of 14 is set, and we're interested in seeing how METEORE (Pulpit) makes the transition to stakes company. A winner of his last two starts over allowance/optional claiming and maiden special weight rivals, the Mandella-trained colt looks very promising. Best of luck at Del Mar!!
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