Del Mar Report #6

3 Stars of the Week

– 1st Star: Dullahan (KY) – Ok…Time for me to eat some crow.  I made it very clear weeks ago that I felt like Dullahan had no chance to win the Pacific Classic.  I laughed at the thought of him shipping across the country just to be an also ran.  Insert FOOT into MOUTH!  Wow was I wrong, and I’m man enough to admit it.  Dullahan was incredible an Sunday, winning the Pacific Classic in TRACK RECORD time.  He whipped the best older horses California has to offer, and to be honest it looked rather easy for him.  The classic distance is no problem for him at all, as it looked like he could run around the track for another lap!  Now the big question is…where does Dullahan go next?  Classic or Turf Classic?  Where will his prep race be?  Do they try him on dirt?  All are fun questions to think about, as this horse will quickly become the topic of many debates.  Congrats to Dullahan and all that cashed on him, this handicapper is humbled…at least for a day or two!

– 2nd Star: Obviously (IRE) – Obviously did everything he can to hold off a charging Mr. Commons in the Del Mar Mile, as he had to run it in record time to get the job done.  For much of the race this one looked like it was going to be a total blow out, as Obviously was way ahead from the rest of the field.  Mr. Commons came flying late making up a ton of ground, but Obviously won the head bob at the wire.  Both these horses were really sharp, and I think both can move forward and be contender in the Breeders Cup Turf Mile.

– 3rd Star: Game On Dude (KY) – Sure he finished second, but it was a solid effort by Game On Dude in the Pacific Classic.  He was beaten less than a length to a horse that set the track record, and moving forward he still is the favorite for the Breeders Cup Classic.  I’m not sure if it would have made a difference, but I felt he made his move a little earlier than he should have.  I’m not going to call it a horrible ride, but it’s certainly not one that will get Chantal Sutherland into the Hall of Fame.  Look for one more prep race for Game On Dude, then it’s on to the Classic.

Flop of the Week

– Maker Or Breaker (KY) – It’s very unfair for me to call this horse the biggest flop, but there just wasn’t a lot of good choices for this spot this week.  Maker Or Breaker was a heavy favorite in an allowance last Wednesday, and was beaten finishing a close second.  I wouldn’t call this a flop, as much as a learning experience.  The horse had a little trouble on the turn and was bumped, which may have cost her a little.  She still hung a little I thought, but look for her to come back running well next time out.

Trainer Standings

Rank	Trainer Name	Sts	1st	2nd	3rd	Total $		Win%	Top3	Top3%
1	Peter Miller	71	18	10	13	$801,270		25%	41	58%
1	Doug F. O’Neill	82	18	10	11	$778,516		22%	39	48%
3	Bob Baffert	65	16	11	9	$1,498,872		25%	36	55%
4	John W. Sadler	86	15	12	11	$1,031,334		17%	38	44%
5	Barry Abrams	53	9	5	2	$446,210		17%	16	30%
5	Jeff Mullins	38	9	5	5	$406,350		24%	19	50%
7	Ronald W. Ellis	23	6	2	2	$636,520		26%	10	43%
7	Mike R. Mitchell	46	6	8	5	$437,540		13%	19	41%
7	Thomas F. Proctor	19	6	3	3	$398,620		32%	12	63%
7	Mike Puype	42	6	9	1	$379,114		14%	16	38%
7	Carla Gaines	21	6	1	2	$351,758		29%	9	43%
7	Mark Glatt	31	6	5	4	$338,470		19%	15	48%
7	Robert B. Hess, Jr.	27	6	4	3	$194,740		22%	13	48%

Jockey Standings

Rank	Jockey Name	Sts	1st	2nd	3rd	Total $		Win%	Top3	Top3%
1	Rafael Bejarano	174	45	29	28	$2,669,838		26%	102	59%
2	Joseph Talamo	183	34	25	27	$2,142,896		19%	86	47%
3	Garrett K. Gomez	172	32	20	36	$1,975,098		19%	88	51%
4	Martin Garcia	139	17	20	14	$960,150		12%	51	37%
4	Edwin A. Maldonado	140	17	21	13	$898,238		12%	51	36%
6	Corey S. Nakatani	96	13	11	10	$819,596		14%	34	35%
7	Victor Espinoza	127	11	26	13	$1,038,590		9%	50	39%
8	Martin A. Pedroza	115	9	11	9	$572,260		8%	29	25%
8	Juan J. Hernandez	100	9	13	10	$422,610		9%	32	32%
10	David Romero Flores	88	8	6	11	$655,697		9%	25	28%
10	Kevin Krigger	88	8	8	12	$496,564		9%	28	32%
10	Eswan Flores	105	8	13	12	$401,274		8%	33	31%
13	Mike E. Smith	39	7	6	2	$771,680		18%	15	38%

Preview to Next Week

– The Generous Portion Stakes – Wednesday – CA bred fillies, two-year olds – six furlongs – $150,000

– The El Cajun Stakes – Friday – three-year olds – One Mile – $100,000

– The Harry F. Burbaker Stakes – Saturday – three-year olds and upward – One Mile – $85,000

– The Del Mar Debutante (Grade 1) – Saturday – two-year old fillies – Seven Furlongs – $300,000

– The Adoration Stakes – Sunday – fillies and mares, three-year olds and upward – One Mile – $85,000

– The Torrey Pines Stakes – Sunday – Three year old fillies – One Mile – $100,000

– The Del Mar Derby (Grade 2) – Sunday – Three year olds – 1 1/8th miles (turf) – $300,000

– The I’m Smokin Stakes – Monday – Two year old CA Breds – Six Furlongs – $150,000

– The Oak Tree Juvenile Fillies Turf – Monday – Two year old fillies – One Mile (Turf) – $100,000

– The Yellow Ribbon Handicap (Grade 2) – Monday – fillies and mares, three-year olds and upward – 1 1/16th miles (turf) – $250,000