Del Mar Report #2: California Chrome and Dortmund Put on a Show

Three Stars of the Week

– 1st Star: CALIFORNIA CHROME – The star of the racing world returned Saturday, and wow was it something special! The Grade 2 San Diego Handicap certainly was no easy task for California Chrome as a fresh off the bench Dortmund proved ULTRA tough and should be given a honorable mention for his courageous performance. California Chrome let Dortmund set the pace and drew next to him at the top of the lane as it looked like it might turn into a romp, but Dortmund hung tough and made the richest race horse in North American racing history battle him all the way to the wire. Up next for both of these two stars…a date in the Pacific Classic with Beholder! The racing world can’t wait!

– 2nd Star: ENOLA GRAY – After another incredible romp in the Fleet Treat Stakes it’s time to try out this beast against open company. Enola Gray gave us her third straight fantastic performance against state bred company on Friday evening as this time she cut back to one turn which looks like it’s going to be her best race. She earned a 101 beyer speed figure for the win so it’s obviously in her realm to run against nearly anyone when going one turn. This beautiful gray filly looks to have a big time future in California, and I’ll be shocked if they don’t let her go out and prove it soon.

https://youtu.be/qgfC83SA3TQ

– 3rd Star: MOKAT – Sometimes a horse makes a move during a race that makes your jaw drop to the floor, and that is exactly what Mokat did when she won the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes at Del Mar on Saturday. On the turn she simply flew past the entire field in a massive romp. Mokat tried to take on the likes of Songbird earlier in the year on the dirt, but now the turf certainly looks like her best route. It’s nice to see a quality horse finally getting rewarded as the sky now could be the limit.

Flop of the Week

– BELVOIR BAY – Their weren’t many candidates for this “award” this week, but Belvoir Bay certainly ran a head scratcher in the Grade 2 San Clemente on Saturday. She went off as the second choice in the race…and ended up running dead last. She was never in great position, and just came up empty in the stretch.

Trainer Standings	Jockey Standings
1. Phillip D’Amato – 5	1. Santiago Gonzalez – 10
2. John Sadler – 4	1. Flavien Prat – 10
2. Mark Glatt- 4	3. Kent Desormeaux – 6
4. Richard Baltas – 3	3. Victor Espinoza – 6
4. Neil Drysdale – 3	5. Rafael Bejarano – 5
4. Doug O’Neill – 3	5. Tyler Baze – 5
7. Bob Baffert – 2	7. Mario Gutierrez – 4
7. Jerry Hollendorfer – 2	8. Gary Stevens – 3
7. Ten others tied at 2	8. Stewart Elliott – 3

Preview to Next Week

Wed. Jul. 27th	REAL GOOD DEAL STAKES Three-year-olds, Cal-Bred	$150,000 Guaranteed 7 Furlongs
Fri. Jul. 29th	CTBA STAKES Fillies, Two-year-olds, Cal-Bred	$100,000 Guaranteed 5 1/2 Furlongs
Sat. Jul. 30th	CLEMENT L. HIRSCH STAKES (Gr. I) Fillies & Mares, Three-year-olds & up	$300,000 Guaranteed 1 1/16 Miles
Sun. Jul. 31st	BING CROSBY STAKES (Gr. I) Three-year-olds & up	$300,000 Guaranteed 6 Furlongs