Let It Ride Preview: Lane Way Steps Up

DEL MAR, CA – MyRacehorse.com and Spendthrift Farm’s Lane Way steps up to the stakes ranks for the first time in Sunday’s $75,000 Let It Ride Stakes at Del Mar.

The Let It Ride is a 1-mile turf route restricted to restricted to 3-year-olds who have not won a stakes with a purse of at least $60,000 other than state-bred at 1 mile or over since April 1. This year’s edition is the penultimate event on a 9-race card and has a local post time of 4:00 PM.

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Here’s a look at the full field for the Let It Ride:

1. Goalie 12/1 – He returned from 6 months away to finish fifth in a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint against optional claimers at Santa Anita Park, his first time going one turn since his debut 5 races prior. Trainer Phil D’Amato likely used that as a prep to race him into shape; his previous 4 starts all came in routes, including a maiden-breaking score by a neck 2 starts back.

2. Lane Way 4/1 – He finished third 4 straight times on dirt to start his career, then switched to turf and posted 3 straight finishes in the exacta, including a maiden-breaking score by a neck over this course and distance in August. With regular rider Flavien Prat quarantining before next weekend’s Breeders’ Cup, Drayden Van Dyke picks up the mount.

3. Strongconstitution 4/1 – The first of two entries from trainer Doug O’Neill was once considered his barn’s best Kentucky Derby (G1) Trail candidate before ailments forced him to miss 9 months. He’s hit the board in 5 of his 6 career starts and earned back-to-back 90 Beyer Speed Figures for finishing third in a pair of dirt mile events against optional claimers.

4. Rookie Mistake 12/1 – The versatile California-bred Square Eddie colt has won sprinting on turf and dirt against his own kind and was a late-running fourth in the Oceanside Stakes over this course and distance in July. O’Neill’s second entry retains first-call jockey Mario Gutierrez, the only rider this horse has ever known, for the 15th time.

5. Heywoods Beach 7/2 – He cuts back from the 1 1/8-mile Del Mar Derby (G2), where he was never a factor and finished 10th of 11. The son of Speightstown should enjoy returning to this shorter distance, over which he’s won 2 of his 3 attempts including an optional claiming event over this course and distance on August 9.

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6. Dominant Soul 8/1 – He cuts back from the 1 1/8-mile Twilight Derby (G2), where he led until the stretch and faded to finish last of 9 runners. Sharp gate jockey Edwin Maldonado rides for the third straight time but will have to get on his quick-footed early if he hopes to outgun the other speed signed on in this race, including the four runners drawn outside.

7. Margot’s Boy 3/1 – The gelded son of top California sire Clubhouse Ride cuts back and takes a significant class drop after finishing second by a head in the Del Mar Derby and crossing seventh in the Twilight Derby, both longer contests. Tiago Pereira rides for the third straight time as he returns to a distance over which all 3 career wins came earlier this year.

8. I’m Leaving You 30/1 – He broke his maiden at third asking while being risked for a $62.5k tag, taking the field gate to wire on the Santa Anita Park lawn in May. He failed to finish better than fifth in his 3 subsequent starts, including 2 at the stakes level, but will likely try to take them gate to wire under returning rider Victor Espinoza, aboard for his maiden victory.

9. Lure Him In 12/1 – Claimed for $40k out of a victory over the Gulfstream Park turf in July, he finished second in the 7 1/2-furlong Bear’s Den Stakes next time out. Trainer Bob Hess Jr. sends him to southern California, where he should enjoy stretching back out to a mile, and he picks up the services of former Eclipse Award-winning jockey Tyler Baze.

10. Jammers Justice 15/1 – Claimed for $4k out of a dirt route at Pleasanton in July, he immediately ran the 3 best Beyer Speed Figures of his career with new trainer Reina Gonzalez. 2 of those came in starter allowances jon the Golden Gate Fields turf, but his back-to-back wins have him looking sharp heading into the biggest class test that he’s ever faced.