Cup Day Previews
The weather is set fair, the track is a sellout and there are EIGHT races for racegoers to spice up their afternoon between cocktails and ambling the tarmac. Cup Day is here!
BARBERRY BANDIT’s previous two runs have a pretty solid look about them. In June he was fourth behind English Bay Teddy in third when both chased home Azov Sea. English Bay Teddy then won next time, with Barberry Bandit running the best race of his career in second. Azov Sea has also won again since. GROOVIN’ IS BAK will be a popular choice among Cup Day revellers and a repeat of his fourth-place finish to Accordingly last time could see him involved at the sharp end. C C SUNRISE has been dropped in class a little and was close enough to Matsqui two starts ago to suggest she shouldn’t remain a maiden too much longer.
DRILL BABY DRILL hasn’t missed the board in nine starts, stretching back to last September, and she’ll be knocking on the door again here. She had subsequent winner STRIKING VALUE behind her when winning two starts ago and, earlier this month, was a rallying second to stablemate Rose of Texas. TOBESUNNY is another consistent sort. She’s been holding her own against better horses than she faces here and the class relief should help push her closer to a second career win.
LENT ME TWENTY drops a little in class here but has run solidly enough so far this season. If she can repeat pretty much any of her previous three runs she may be hard to handle. SHE’S ON FIRE has had LILSISTERLEE behind twice already this season and is a consistent sort who has hit the board three times in the current campaign. Lilsisterlee returns to 6½ furlongs after a sub-standard effort over the long course. She has started as favourite in four of her five starts this term but has yet to justify the odds, although she could do some damage on the front end if allowed an easy lead.
With, seemingly, no other pacesetters in the line-up, the veteran IT’S IN COMMAND may have things his own way on the front end. He was just behind Paddy d’Oro and today’s rival ACE DEUCE last time and only gave way very late. Fellow old-timer Ace Deuce makes his third appearance of the season. The remarkable 12-year-old remains consistent at this level and he will be thereabouts again today. TIZ MEOW makes just his second appearance of the season and is entitled to improve on his perfectly-acceptable fifth on his 2023 debut.
DYNAMITER, who ran well enough when third to Deputy’s Dancer and Better Tone last time, returns to the long course he broke his maiden over in June. He led them a merry dance that day and the lightly-raced gelding may have more to come. Leading rider Amadeo Perez takes the ride. Stablemate SILARONE was closing fast behind There Goes My Hero last time and may relish this chance to stretch his legs over the extra real estate. TUXEDO couldn’t match Filly Fatale last time but kept going right to the line and had everything else beat, including the rallying SILVER ARROW who reportedly harmed her own chances by jumping shadows.
There might be some value at the windows for lightly-raced PETERSON LANDING, who lines up here following a close third to B C Christie and today’s rival (and likely favourite) CHI CHI’S SONG. Chi Chi’s Song is a worthy favourite. She’s bumped into some useful sorts this season and is no pushover. BC CHU CHU had no answer to the smart Indyetta last time but this looks like a less exacting challenge and she’s another for the shortlist.
BODEGA has had two runs over 6½ furlongs this term and should be spot on for today’s 9-furlong feature contest. He’s clearly more effective over a distance of ground and will make his presence felt; especially if he can reproduce last October’s winning performance against stronger opposition than he faces today. JUST MAKE BELIEVE drops a rung on the class ladder but will need to show a little more than his most recent effort. He’s better judged on his second to Mr Quality in his previous race and runs as though the distance should suit. YOU DON’T OWN ME got first run on them last time under an enterprising ride by Learie Seecharan and had LIZZIES GIRL just behind when they chased home Barney Google. But, while You Don’t Own Me enjoyed the run of the race, Lizzies Girl was stuck down on the rail and couldn’t find clear passage in time. She races as though this distance will suit and she can turn the tables.
DEANARROW believers have had their faith tested of late, but this represents a new challenge as connections take aim at the long course. His ability to perform over the 8½ furlongs will need to be taken on trust, but he’s been second three times already this term and it’s hard not to see him involved at the sharp end again. SOMTHING ELUSIVE has hit the board in his previous five efforts and his length-second to DYNAMITER might look a lot better after the result in today’s fifth race. MOUNT LOKI ran a blinder on just his second lifetime start when going down by a nose to Striking Value (with HARBOUR STORM behind) and if he can reproduce, or improve upon, then he will be a threat. UNION MAN has yet to take on the long course. However, he was plugging on well enough last time behind Blackstone and today’s rival Deanarrow to suggest he might enjoy the challenge.
Cup Day Picks
Don’t Forget!
Opening Day at Del Mar
Conclude is Best in Oceanside as Del Mar Kicks Off Friday
Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stables and Brereton Jones’ Conclude, a Kentucky-bred son of 2017 Pacific Classic winner Collected, scored a smart length and a quarter victory in the Caesars Sportsbook Oceanside Stakes Friday at Del Mar as the seaside track kicked off its 2023 summer season.
The chestnut colt was handled by Hector Berrios and was saddled by Del Mar’s 2022 training kingpin, Phil D’Amato. This was D’Amato’s third victory in the one-mile turf race that has been the track’s traditional opening day headliner for many moons. For emphasis, D’Amato also saddled the second-place finisher, Michael House’s Classical Cat.
Finishing third in the 78th edition of the $100 grander limited to 3-year-olds was Great Friends Stable or Davis’ Ah Jeez.
Conclude picked up a winner’s share of $60,000 for his third victory in his fifth start. He now has a bankroll of $179,600. He paid $11.40 to his backers in the crowd of 21,733.
Conclude is out of a Proud Citizen mare named Believe You Can and was bred by part owner Jones.
The Oceanside is the first of a trio of Del Mar turf stakes for sophomores. Next comes the La Jolla Handicap on August 6, a Grade III test that runs at a mile and one-sixteenth and carries a $150,000 purse. The final leg of the threesome is the $300,000, Grade II Caesars Sportsbook Del Mar Derby, which is contested at a mile and one-eighth and will be presented on Sunday, September 3.
Racing resumes at Del Mar Saturday with first post at 2 p.m.