Racing Dudes Three Stars of the Week: Del Mar’s Turf Festival Closes Fall Meet

The long Thanksgiving weekend of racing spelled an end to Del Mar’s short fall meet, but we were treated to one last run of great performances where the turf meets the surf. Churchill Downs’ Stars of Tomorrow II card didn’t disappoint, either, as some of the sport’s future headliners made waves on the Louisville dirt. See who made out latest Three Stars of the Week:

1. Domestic Spending

The east coast-based Chad Brown sent several of his best turfers still in training to Del Mar this weekend and came away with multiple wins, including Domestic Spending, who rallied from well off the pace to win Saturday’s Hollywood Derby (G1) at the wire. The 3-year-old gelding came on in the second half of the year and will enter 2021 as one of the top American-based older turf males.

2. Viadera

Brown’s Del Mar domination continued Sunday when Viadera nailed her stablemate Blowout at the wire of the Matriarch Stakes (G1). The win was her third straight at the stakes level and sets her up for a huge 2021 that could end right back here at Del Mar in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

3. Travel Column

Despite getting squeezed back at the start and having to endure a tough trip, Travel Column stamped herself as an early contender for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) with a strong stretch run in Saturday’s Golden Rod Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs. With top-notch connections like Brad Cox and Florent Geroux on her side, the sky’s the limit with this pricey ($850k) daughter of Frosted.