Truly Quality first to repeat since Hollywood Turf Cup's move to Del Mar

Augustin Stables’ homebred Truly Quality had raced only twice since his biggest career win in last November’s Hollywood Turf Cup (G2), but the lack of match practice proved no obstacle to his title defense in Friday’s $202,000 renewal at Del Mar.

Trained by Jonathan Thomas and ridden by Mirco Demuro, the 1.90-1 favorite became the first repeat winner since the turf feature’s transfer from old Hollywood Park in 2014. At its eponymous venue, Alphabatim won twice (1984 and 1986), and Lazy Lode scored in consecutive years (1998-99). 

Truly Quality brought a progressive profile into the 2024 edition, in the wake of a course-record coup in the Colonial Cup at Colonial Downs and a last-to-first decision in the Singspiel (G3) at Woodbine. The Quality Road gelding made it a hat trick in last year's Hollywood Turf Cup and appeared poised to develop into a divisional mainstay.

Unfortunately, Truly Quality was sidelined after a subpar sixth in the Feb. 8 San Marcos (G3) at Santa Anita. The five-year-old resurfaced over the summer with a rallying fourth in the Del Mar H. (G2), only to need time again.

Truly Quality benefited from the patient approach and took another step forward here. Anchored well off the pace set by an aggressive Balladeer through fractions of :24.56 and :48.86, he moved closer when Demuro sensed the slackening at the six-furlong mark in 1:14.24. 

On the final turn, the stalking Reiquist pounced on Balladeer, but Truly Quality was about to dispatch them both. The dark bay powered to the front down the lane and pulled away by a handy 1 3/4 lengths. 

A trio crossed the wire heads apart in a battle for the placings. Flashiest got up for second over Nineeleventurbo, with Reiquist just nipped in fourth. 

Backers of Flashiest, the 40-1 longest shot on the board, had to await a stewards’ inquiry before the race was declared official. Entering the final turn, there was a chain reaction of tight quarters resulting in varying degrees of trouble.

Flashiest tightened up the rail-hugging Grogu, who had nowhere to go but bounce off the fence. Then Flashiest brushed with Nineeleventurbo and got forced to shuffle back himself, in turn affecting Balnikhov. In a majority decision, the stewards ruled that the “incident did not warrant a disqualification,” according to the chart.

The hampered Grogu wound up sixth, one spot behind Rastaman Vibe. Next came Mondego, Balnikhov, and Balladeer.

Truly Quality covered 1 1/2 miles on the firm turf in 2:29.67 and paid $5.80. His scorecard now stands at 16-6-4-3, $637,495.

“He was very impressive today,” Thomas said. “I thought Mirco did a very good job of getting after him early. He noticed the slow pace and was able to get him in a good spot down the backside. When he got there, I thought with his stamina that he’d really hang there. It was tough out on that post (7) – he gave up some good ground around that first turn, but he got a really good ride.”

Demuro had gotten well acquainted with Truly Quality during training hours.

“Unbelievable horse. I ride him in the mornings, and he knows what he is doing,” the winning rider said. “He is the kind of horse that sometimes puts you in a difficult position because he’s lazy in the beginning, but as you go down the stretch, he goes. 

“He wanted to go. You don’t want to interrupt his rhythm. He’s a one-pace horse. He stays, but if you go too soon, he stops when you get to the front. If you go too late, he doesn’t make it. 

“With the position I had and the pace we went (thanks to Balladeer), I was able to make my move whenever. He is a clever horse – he knows what to do. When he came down the stretch, he wanted to win the race.”

A half-brother to Grade 2 victress Mouffy, Truly Quality is out of the Grade 3-placed Truly Together. The mare is a daughter of Smart Strike and champion Forever Together, winner of the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) in the same Augustin colors for owner George Strawbridge Jr.