Del Mar Report #6

Three Stars of the Week

– 1st Star: Game On Dude (KY) – This was just brilliant!  Just when you think the old gelding can’t get any better, he raises the bar another notch.  Sunday’s 8 1/2 length win in the Pacific Classic was simply amazing, and keeps him undefeated on the year.  The race probably puts him in the number one spot for horse of the year honors, and also gives him his first Pacific Classic victory in three tries.  It’s obvious the Breeders Cup Classic will tell the story of his season, and the way he’s running now should be good enough to win it.  At this point, he’s the best horse in the country.

– 2nd Star: Fed Biz (KY) – Everybody was throwing their money towards Goldencents in the Pat O’Brien Stakes, but it was Fed Biz who ran HUGE as he set a track record in his one length victory.  The win was his first win since January, and only his second graded stakes win.  Jockey Martin Garcia sat about eight length off the pace setters in ninth, and was able to just catch Goldencents in the final sixteenth of a mile.  This race could mean that Fed Biz has found his game again, and should set him up nicely for a start in the Breeders Cup Mile or Sprint.

– 3rd Star: Obviously (IRE) – There are some low grumblings that Obviously just might be a horse that can challenge Wise Dan in the Breeders Cup Mile in November, and his win in the Del Mar Mile Handicap on Sunday will only add fuel to the fire.  It was his third straight graded stakes win, and as usual he did it in wire to wire fashion.  The presence of that early speed is such a valuable asset considering his ability to cut out fast fractions with relative ease without getting tired.  I’m sure he’ll run in one more prep race before he tries to tackle the current horse of the year at Santa Anita in the Breeders Cup.

Flop of the Week

– Dullahan (KY) – It’s time to close the door on Dullahan.  After winning the Pacific Classic just one year ago, he’s hit the board in just one of six races since.  Not only has he been off the board, but he’s been a non-factor in most of them.  They’ve tried him on different surfaces, countries, and spots with no success.  At this point the horse probably needs some time away from the track.

Trainer Standings

Rank	Trainer Name	Sts	1st	2nd	3rd	Total $		Win%	Top3	Top3%
1	John W. Sadler	120	23	23	20	$2,057,718		19%	66	55%
2	Bob Baffert	73	18	11	7	$1,776,600		25%	36	49%
2	Doug F. O’Neill	109	18	20	19	$1,166,566		17%	57	52%
4	Jerry Hollendorfer	69	16	6	7	$1,029,350		23%	29	42%
5	Peter Miller	78	14	15	8	$789,052		18%	37	47%
6	Mike R. Mitchell	53	10	8	7	$527,294		19%	25	47%
7	Vann Belvoir	33	7	1	3	$150,480		21%	11	33%
8	Michael Pender	23	5	2	6	$458,706		22%	13	57%
8	Mike Puype	44	5	7	4	$380,322		11%	16	36%
8	Tim Yakteen	17	5	2	1	$284,946		29%	8	47%
8	Victor L. Garcia	17	5	5	0	$225,388		29%	10	59%
12	Thomas F. Proctor	31	4	5	5	$429,932		13%	14	45%
12	Jeff Mullins	37	4	9	3	$383,854		11%	16	43%
12	Mark Glatt	31	4	5	3	$306,692		13%	12	39%
12	Neil D. Drysdale	18	4	4	1	$297,980		22%	9	50%
12	Jeff Bonde	27	4	5	3	$271,246		15%	12	44%
12	Richard E. Mandella	12	4	0	1	$216,750		33%	5	42%
12	Dan L. Hendricks	24	4	1	4	$182,368		17%	9	38%
12	Leonard Powell	9	4	0	0	$173,730		44%	4	44%
12	Steven Miyadi	23	4	4	4	$165,390		17%	12	52%

Jockey Standings

Rank	Jockey Name	Sts	1st	2nd	3rd	Total $		Win%	Top3	Top3%
1	Rafael Bejarano	196	41	38	22	$2,592,452		21%	101	52%
2	Martin Garcia	118	24	16	9	$1,948,432		20%	49	42%
3	Edwin A. Maldonado	172	23	22	18	$1,400,298		13%	63	37%
4	Julien R. Leparoux	108	20	10	18	$1,560,402		19%	48	44%
5	Victor Espinoza	130	18	24	17	$1,640,200		14%	59	45%
6	Joseph Talamo	198	16	26	29	$1,440,764		8%	71	36%
7	Gary L. Stevens	59	15	7	6	$1,018,466		25%	28	47%
7	Mario Gutierrez	97	15	12	10	$825,966		15%	37	38%
9	Corey S. Nakatani	99	13	11	15	$1,109,462		13%	39	39%
10	Garrett K. Gomez	58	11	9	11	$857,628		19%	31	53%
10	Agapito Delgadillo	91	11	9	12	$469,626		12%	32	35%
12	Irving Orozco	104	9	10	16	$487,282		9%	35	34%

Preview to Next Week

– Wednesday: The Generous Portion Stakes – Two Year old Cal Bred Fillies – Six Furlongs – Purse: $150,000

– Friday: The El Cajon Stakes – Three Year Olds – One Mile – Purse: $100,000

– Saturday: The Harry F. Brubaker Stakes – Three Year Olds and Upward – One Mile – Purse: $90,000

– Saturday: The Del Mar Debutante (Grade 1) – Two Year Old Fillies – Seven Furlongs – Purse: $300,000

– Sunday: The Adoration Stakes – Fillies and Mare Three Year Olds and Upward – One Mile – Purse: $90,000

– Sunday: The Torrey Pines Stakes – Three Year Old Fillies – One Mile – Purse: $100,000

– Sunday: The Del Mar Derby (Grade 1) – Three Year Olds – 1 1/8 Miles (Turf) – Purse: $300,000

– Monday: The I’m Smokin Stakes – Two Year Old Cal Breds – Six Furlongs – Purse: $150,000

– Monday: The Oak Tree Juvenile Turf – Two Year Old Fillies – One Mile (Turf) – Purse: $100,000

– Monday: The Yellow Ribbon Handicap (Grade 2) – Fillies and Mares Three Year Olds and Upward – 1 1/16 Miles (Turf) – Purse: $150,000