Del Mar Daily Notebook

DEL MAR DAILY NOTEBOOK

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2005

by Brian P. Turner

Del Mar kicked off its 43-day meet on Wednesday with the Oceanside S. for

three-year-olds going eight furlongs over lawn. As has been the case for years

now, the Oceanside was divided into two divisions to cater to the overflow of

horses entered for this important prep for the Del Mar Derby (G2) on September

5.

A field of nine went to the post for the first division, headed by morning

line and post time favorite EASTERN SAND (Line In The Sand) who was looking for

his first win on the grass since capturing an allowance event at Calder in

November of last year. Unfortunately for the chalk players though, Eastern Sand

lost all chance at the start of the Oceanside as he stayed in the gate, spotting

the field a solid advantage. Jockey Alex Solis was forced to rush the chestnut

up into contention, which may have taken too much out of his charge, and after

being in good position on the turn for home, Eastern Sand faded in the stretch

drive to finish seventh.

In the end, the day belonged to BECRUX (Ity) (Glen Jordan), who bounded to

the lead out of the gate and led the field through early fractions of :23 3/5

and :47 3/5. Jockey Garrett Gomez put on a brilliant ride, letting the field

stay just close enough that they thought they had a chance before opening up in

the stretch drive to cross the wire 1 1/2 lengths in front, paying a solid $28

for the effort.

Becrux's first start in North America came in the Hill Prince S. (G3) at

Belmont back in June where he put in an absolute dismal performance to finish

last in a field of nine, beaten by 15 3/4 lengths. A closer look at his past

performances though reveals that he was quite the performer in Italy in August

and September of last year as he won the first four starts of his career in easy

fashion. If his performance in this event is any indication, it appears that

Becrux has returned to his old form.

LEGAL PRECEDENT (Theatrical [Ire]) rallied from off the pace in a solid

effort to pick up the place, 1 1/2 lengths clear of LEO GETZ (Wild Rush) in

third.

In the second division of the Oceanside, a field of eight went to the post

headed by EL ROBLAR (War Chant), who was making his first start on the grass

after back to back wins on the dirt. Progeny of War Chant win 21 percent of the

time in their first try on the grass so it was well within the realm of

possibility that he could actually improve with the move to the lawn. Standing

in his way though was JULIESUGARDADDY (Unusual Heat), who was a perfect three

for three on the grass and seemed to be improving with every start.

This time, the chalk players were not to be denied though as El Roblar put in

a brilliant performance, rallying from off the pace with a nice closing kick in

the stretch drive to hit the finish line three parts of a length in front.

IN EXCELSIS (Fusaichi Pegasus) put in a solid effort himself, rallying late

to pick up the place, a head in front of Juliesugardaddy in third.

The old Del Mar bias held up on opening day as horses either on the lead or

stalking won all but one of the main track events. As for the three

eight-furlong turf races contested over the newly sodded turf course, two of

them were won by horses rallying from off the pace.

Jockey Patrick Valenzuela got his Del Mar meet off to a great start as he hit

the board with each of his seven mounts on the day, including visiting the

winner's circle twice. Valenzuela actually crossed the wire in front in the 3RD

race as well but was disqualified to second for interference in the stretch

drive.

Horses to Watch

1ST -- CLEVER HUNTER (Jade Hunter) came off the second turn of this 1 1/16

mile maiden claiming event on the rail and full of run. Unfortunately, the

three-year-old filly found herself behind a wall of horses with absolutely no

way to get through. Once jockey Jose Valdivia Jr. got her switched outside and

into the open, she had geared down to the point that she just couldn't regain

her best stride. The chestnut finished evenly and crossed the wire in a dead

heat for third.

7TH -- BRO LO (In Excess [Ire]) looked outstanding in his first career start.

The dark bay took the lead early in this two-year-old Cal-bred maiden special

event and never looked back, widening his lead through the stretch drive to hit

the wire eight lengths clear of the field.

Tomorrow's Outlook - Thursday, July 21

A highly competitive field of eight is scheduled to go to the post for

Thursday's feature race, a $72,000 allowance event for fillies and mares

three-years-old and up going eight furlongs over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

Among those scheduled to compete in the event is multiple Grade 2 winner HOUSE

OF FORTUNE (Free House), who will be trying the grass for the first time in her

16-race career, but one has to wonder, given her pedigree, how well she will

take to the new surface. Free House produces only 9 percent winners when his

progeny is trying the turf for the first time and House of Fortune's dam, So

Fortunate (Garthorn), doesn't offer an overwhelming turf influence with her

pedigree either.

Keep an eye on NAVAJA (NZ) (Daggers Dawn), who is coming off of a solid third

place finish behind Grade 1 winner Intercontinental (GB) (Danehill) in the Royal

Heroine Invitational S. (G3) at Hollywood, and the Jenine Sahadi-trained PENNY'S

FORTUNE (Storm Cat) who has been to the winner's circle in three of her last

four starts on the grass.

Mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 70s are forecasted for

Thursday's eight race card.

Thursday's Best Plays

3RD -- FIRE BOLT (Brz) (Roba Fina [Ire]) tops the field in BRIS Speed Ratings

and BRIS Prime Power in this five furlong turf optional claiming event. The dark

bay holds a lifetime record of 8-3-5-0 on the grass and has shown the ability in

the past to either stalk the pacesetter or rally from well off the pace, which

should benefit her in this situation. Trainer Jeff Mullins wins 26 percent of

the time with his turf starters and 21 percent of the time, over the last 60

days, when he gives jockey Victor Espinoza a leg up on his mounts. Though Fire

Bolt has finished second in each of her last three starts, she appears to be

poised to have her picture taken on Thursday.

6TH -- MEMOGRAM (Memo [Chi]) has two second-place finishes to her credit from

two starts since being claimed and moved into the barn of trainer Bill Spawr.

The bay's connections appear to be looking for a win though as they are dropping

her down a class to compete in this $16,000 claiming event and Spawr is a very

solid 29 percent in the "Down One Class" trainer category. Garrett Gomez, the

leading rider of the just completed Hollywood Park meet, has been enlisted for

the ride and he has combined with Spawr for a 30 percent win mark over the last

60 days. Memogram posted a BRIS Speed Rating of 86 in her last start and a

repeat of that performance, combined with the drop in class, could serve to make

her one tough customer in this event.