Del Mar Daily Notebook

DEL MAR DAILY NOTEBOOK

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2007

by Brian P. Turner

Sunday brought the featured day of the meet as there were a total of four

stakes, highlighted by the $1 million Pacific Classic S. (G1) for

three-year-olds and up going 10 furlongs over the Polytrack. With the scratch of

Tiago (Pleasant Tap), a field of 12 went to the gate headed by Lava Man (Slew

City Slew), who was looking to claim the elusive Santa Anita H. (G1), Hollywood

Gold Cup (G1) and Pacific Classic triple for a second year in a row. The

difference between this year and last year, though, was that he was going to

have to handle the Del Mar Polytrack and he also had to contend with two

competitors that he had outgamed to the wire in the Hollywood Gold Cup, which he

won by a nose.

When the gates sprang open, A. P. Xcellent (A.P. Indy) fought his way to the

early lead and guided the field through early fractions of :24 4/5 and :49 3/5

while Lava Man stalked behind. Once they approached the final turn, Lava Man

made his move along the outside to challenge for the lead, but he wasn't alone

as he was quickly joined by longshot STUDENT COUNCIL (Kingmambo), who had been

in a nice stalking position just off the pace early. Everyone watching had to

expect that between the two it would be Lava Man who would continue on to the

wire, but instead it was Student Council who opened up on the field through the

stretch drive.

Student Council appeared to become a bit complacent once he had the lead all

to himself and jockey Richard Migliore was forced to continue with the whip

through the stretch drive simply to keep his mount's mind on business. Had he

not done so, Student Council would never have held off the late charge of

Awesome Gem (Awesome Again), who closed with an impressive turn of foot and was

gobbling up ground with every stride. It was too little too late, though, as

Awesome Gem ran out of real estate and Student Council hit the finish line a

half-length in front.

Student Council was making his first start for trainer Vladimir Cerin after a

solid but unspectacular career competing primarily in Kentucky. In his most

recent effort, the five-year-old horse had finished second against

allowance/optional claiming company at Churchill Downs. The bay obviously found

the change of scenery and connections to his liking, as he beat a very nice

field of graded horses here, and those willing to back him had to be thrilled

with the $48.80 he paid for the effort.

Awesome Gem put in a stellar performance to pick up the place as he was four

lengths clear of his nearest rival, which was Hello Sunday (Fr) (Poliglote [GB])

in third. Lava Man faded to finish sixth.

Also on Sunday, a field of nine contested the Del Mar Mile H. (G2) for

three-year-olds and up going eight furlongs over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

Out of Control (Brz) (Vettori [Ire]) was sent off the favorite off his effort in

the Eddie Read H. (G1), where he pressed the pace early and dug in determinedly

through the stretch drive only to come up 1 1/2 lengths short to multiple Grade

1 winner After Market (Storm Cat). Prior to that, the dark bay stalked the pace

early on his way to a game victory in the American Invitational H. (G2) at

Hollywood in which he dug in gamely through the stretch to hit the finish line a

head in front.

When the gates sprang open, Lang Field (Langfuhr) bounded to the lead, guiding the field through opening fractions of :22 4/5 and :46

1/5 while Out of Control stalked just off the pace. By the time the field hit

the stretch, it became apparent that Lang Field could not carry his momentum to

the wire as several members of the field, including Out of Control, moved up to

challenge. Out of all of them, though, it appeared that Becrux (Ity) (Glen

Jordan) was finishing best of all and he looked like he was on his way to

victory.

It was at this time that jockey Garrett Gomez aboard CROSSING THE LINE (NZ)

(Cape Cross [Ire]) swung his mount out into the middle of the turf course and he

exploded with an absolutely dazzling turn of foot. The dark bay quickly engulfed

the field and took the lead on his way to a three-quarter of a length victory,

stopping the clock for the eight furlongs in 1:32 2/5, which was only one-fifth

of a second off the track record.

Crossing the Line turned a few heads back in the spring after arriving in

North America by claiming victory in each of his first two starts at Hollywood,

with his latest win coming in early July against allowance/optional claiming

company. Though the gelding was impressive in each of those starts, they pale in

comparison to the effort he put in here, where he ran his career record to an

eye popping 6-5-1-0. If his connections elect to put up the money to run him in

the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1), he definitely has to be considered one of the

favorites to bring home the victory.

Becrux, who was coming off a nice victory in the Wickerr H. here earlier

in the meet, held on determinedly to finish second, a length in front of longshot Isipingo (Horse Chestnut [SAf]) in third. Out

of Control put in a bit of a

disappointing effort here and really had no excuse as he crossed the finish line

in sixth.

The other graded stakes offering on the day was the Pat O'Brien H. (G2) for

three-year-olds and up going seven furlongs over the Polytrack. Surf Cat (Sir

Cat) was sent to the gate as the favorite off his game second-place effort last

out in his first start back in more than a year in the Triple Bend Invitational

H. (G1), where he rallied from 6 1/4 lengths off the pace to miss by only a

head. Prior to going on his long vacation, the dark bay had reeled off three

Grade 2 wins in a row and his performance in his return served notice that he

was back with a vengeance. The lone concern in the Pat O'Brien was if there

would be enough early pace to set up his powerful late kick.

Bordonaro (Memo [Chi]) appeared to be the speediest member of the field and

it looked as if he might have things his own way on the lead early. When the

gates sprang open, though, the chestnut bounded to the lead, but was pressed every step of the way by GREG'S GOLD (Lake George)

through opening fractions of :24 and :47 1/5 while Surf Cat was content to lay

well behind in third. As the field approached the turn, Greg's Gold wrestled

away the lead while still under a hold and didn't unleash his best until he hit

the stretch, at which time he opened up on the field. Surf Cat closed ground

with a blazing turn of foot but it quickly became apparent that he had no chance

of running down Greg's Gold, who dug in determinedly to hit the finish line 1

1/2 lengths in front.

Greg's Gold was coming off a determined second-place effort in the Bing

Crosby H. (G1) in which he stalked the pace early and finished well late to miss

by a nose at the wire, posting a career-best 108 BRIS Speed rating in the

process. Considering that the gray had already proven he could handle the Del

Mar Polytrack, his $6 payoff for winning the Pat O'Brien was extremely generous.

Surf Cat easily beat the rest of the field to the wire in second, 5 1/2

lengths clear of Soul City Slew (Slew City Slew), who went off the longest shot

on the board.

Del Mar kicked off Sunday's card with the Viejas Casino H. for three-year-old

fillies going eight furlongs on the lawn. SILKY SMOOTH (Mr. Greeley) was sent to

the gate as the favorite as she finished only 2 3/4 lengths back last out

against subsequent Del Mar Oaks (G1) winner Rutherienne (Pulpit) in the Lake George S. (G3)

at Saratoga. The chestnut rewarded her backers by laying just off the pace early

through opening fractions of :23 and :47 4/5 before moving into contention on

the turn and taking command in the stretch drive on her way to an easy

half-length victory.

Honored Gold (Double Honor) pressed the pace throughout and dug in

determinedly late to cross the wire in second, a half-length in front of Nootka

Island (El Corredor) in third.

There was a total of four sprints contested over the Polytrack Sunday, with

horses closing from off the pace winning two of them and horses on or near the

pace winning two. In addition to the Pacific Classic, there was one other main

track route, which was won by a runner closing from off the pace. There was a total of four turf routes on the day with closers winning three of them.

Michael Baze didn't add to his total today but still leads the way in the

jockey standings with 37 for the meet. Joe Talamo went winless on the day and

remains a distant second with 27. Victor Espinoza rode two winners on the day

and remains in third with 20.

Doug O'Neill added two to his total today and still leads the way in the

trainer standings with 16 for the meet. Jeff Mullins saddled two winners on the

day as well and remains in second with 13. John Sadler saddled a winner today,

which moves him into a tie for the third spot with Craig Dollase and Peter

Miller. The trio has nine winners each.

Horses to Watch

2ND - GRACE ANATOMY (Aldebaran) ran a respectable third in her career debut

on July 21 here, but definitely took a step forward in this maiden special

weight event. The two-year-old filly was content to lay off the pace early

through opening fractions of :23 1/5 and :47 1/5 before making her move wide

coming off the turn and taking command in the stretch drive on her way to an

easy two-length victory.

4TH - MODEL (Giant's Causeway) cleared her maiden condition in very nice

fashion in her second start for trainer Neil Drysdale. The three-year-old filly

showed a great deal of promise in her career debut sprinting on the turf at

Hollywood as she rallied from off the pace to miss by three lengths. The bay

definitely appeared to want more ground that day and she got it in this 1

1/16-mile maiden special weight event on the grass. Model laid just off the pace

early through opening fractions of :24 and :48 before bulling her way through a

hole in the stretch drive on her way to a three-quarter of a length victory.

MEZUZAH (Mazel Trick) has encountered trouble in each of her last two starts.

After lacking room in the stretch here last out, the bay found herself trapped

behind a wall of horses in the stretch of this event. Once she was shifted to

the outside, the bay closed with an explosive turn of foot and was gaining

ground on the winner late but was forced to settle for second.

Tomorrow's Outlook - Monday, August 20

Monday's 7TH race is an allowance/optional claiming event for three-year-olds

and up going eight furlongs on the main track. A field of six is set to go to

the gate and it wouldn't be a surprise to see any of them in the winner's circle

at the end so insist on value before wagering. BERNASCONI (Rahy) is exiting a

third-place finish in the first division of the Oceanside S. here on opening day

in which he stalked the pace early only to miss by two lengths in the end. In

the start previous to that, the bay put in a game performance to take the

victory by a head against allowance company on the Cushion Track at Hollywood and

has two wins from three starts over synthetic surfaces.

VICTORY DESIGN (Ire) (Danehill) will be making his first start for trainer

Miller after competing predominately in Kentucky. The bay finished second in his

lone start over the Polytrack, which came at Turfway Park, and he posted a very

solid work of 1:12 4/5 for six furlongs here on August 12 over the Del Mar

Polytrack, which was the third fastest of 27 that morning. MIDWESTERNER

(Petersburg) appears to be the speediest member of the field but has shown the

ability to stalk the pace as well. This should allow jockey Espinoza to have him

well placed early regardless of the pace scenario. The fact that he already has

a start to his credit over the surface here only adds to his appeal.

OLD MAN RIVER (Event of the Year) has been acquitting himself well against

state-bred stakes competition and fits in nicely against these.

Monday's Best Plays

3RD - L. A. PHIL (Stravinsky) will be taking a class drop and appears to be

the lone speed of the field among those with a start to their credit in this

Cal-bred maiden claiming event. The dark bay's BRIS E2 Pace ratings absolutely

tower over this bunch, which means that Talamo should have things his own way

early with plenty left at the end to hit the finish line in front. The gelding

tops the field in BRIS Prime Power and his BRIS Class rating is also tops for

this group. Trainer Carla Gaines has been hot for the meet thus far and appears

to have found an ideal spot for L. A. Phil to clear his maiden condition.

6TH - WATCH OVER ME (Smokester) will also be dropping in class after

finishing second, beaten by 3 1/2 lengths, in his last start here on July 30.

The dark bay is one of the speedier members of the field but has also shown the

ability to stalk the pace when necessary, which should benefit him well here.

Mullins wins with 25 percent of his starters when dropping them down a class

level and 27 percent of the claiming races he has a starter in overall. Watch

Over Me tops the field in BRIS Prime Power and is near the top in BRIS Class

rating while his BRIS Speed ratings are in line with the best of these.