Del Mar Report #5: Klimt Looks Sharp in Best Pal Stakes

Three Stars of the Week

– 1st Star: KLIMT – Bob Baffert has another nice two year old! Klimt was a nice three length winner in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes on Saturday, and will now be pointed towards the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity to face what looks to be shaping up as a very tough field. The win was Klimt’s second in a row after losing his debut race. The $435,000 Quality Road colt will be given every chance to become a star within the division now as Baffert won’t be afraid to enter him against tough competition.

– 2nd Star: MAJESTIC HEAT – The California breds took center stage on Sunday afternoon, and it was the favored Majestic Heat that showed her stuff in a nice winning effort. She was coming into the race off a win at Santa Anita last time out so this now makes two wins in a row for her. With the Cal bred stakes program they could keep her against state bred company, but she may be getting to the point where open company is worth a shot.

– 3rd Star: WHY TWO – This guy has found a home sprinting on the turf! After a lack luster career on the dirt, Why Two has switched to turf and has now one back to back turf sprints as he took home the Green Flash Handicap on Friday. Both of his wins have been hard fought victories, and both looked as though he might be able to go a little further than five furlongs. Look for him in a graded stakes next time out.

Flop of the Week

– HUNT – He came into the Green Flash Stakes on a three race win streak, but finished a disappointing sixth on Friday evening. Who knows what happened to him in this one, but you would think he will rebound from this in a big way next time out.

Trainer Standings	Jockey Standings
1. Phillip D’Amato – 11	1. Flavien Prat – 23
2. Bob Baffert – 10	2. Santiago Gonzalez – 21
3. John Sadler – 9	3. Rafael Bejarano – 20
3. Mark Glatt – 9	4. Kent Desormeaux – 14
3. Richard Baltas – 9	5. Tyler Baze – 13
6. Peter Miller – 8	6. Victor Espinoza – 11
7. Doug O’Neill – 7	7. Mario Gutierrez – 9
8. Michael Machowsky – 6	7. Stewart Elliott – 9
9. Richard Mandella – 5	9. Norberto Arroyo – 8

Preview to Next Week

Wed. Aug. 17th	RANCHO BERNARDO HANDICAP (Gr. III) Fillies & Mares, Three-year-olds & up	$100,000 Guaranteed 6 1/2 Furlongs
Fri. Aug. 19th	CTT and TOC Handicap Fillies & Mares, Three-year-olds & up	$75,000 Added 1 3/8 Miles (Turf)
Sat. Aug. 20th	DEL MAR HANDICAP (Gr. II) presented by Japan Racing Association Three-year-olds & up	$250,000 Guaranteed 1 3/8 Miles (Turf)
Sat. Aug. 20th	TVG PACIFIC CLASSIC (Gr. I) Three-year-olds & up	$1,000,000 Guaranteed 1 1/4 Miles
Sat. Aug. 20th	DEL MAR OAKS (Gr. I) Fillies, Three-year-olds	$300,000 Guaranteed 1 1/8 Miles (Turf)
Sun. Aug. 21st	DEL MAR MILE (Gr. II) Three-year-olds & up	$200,000 Guaranteed 1 Mile (Turf)

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