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Del Mar Derby

DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA                                                                                         SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2009

DEL MAR DERBY

$350,000, Grade II, 3-y-o, 9 f (T)

JOEL ROSARIO (Rendezvous) – “The boss (trainer Jerry Hollendorfer) didn’t give me any instructions. He just said ‘Do what you’re going to do.’ When I went into the first turn, they closed it down on me and I had to take a hold. I was way back. Then when we came up past the quarter pole I tried to go down inside but I got cut off again. I had to take another hold. But I found away around that and got him running. He closed really well; really fast. He’s a nice horse.”

TYLER BAZE (Battle of Hastings) – “He ran his race. A really tough beat. He was picking them up and then when he makes the lead he wants to hesitate and look around. His ears went up a little today. He eased up just a bit and he got beat. So tough.”

JOSEPH TALAMO (Acclamation) – “The steal sign was on. He ran great. If he doesn’t get pressed (by Papa Clem), I think we win it.” 

RAFAEL BEJARANO (Meteore) – “My hand was fine today. No problems. My horse got hot, though. He was sweating and too nervous. Usually he’s cool. He just wasn’t comfortable today.”

COREY NAKATANI (Afleet Eagle) – “I felt something amiss over on the far turn and I took a hold. I felt I had to pull him up. I’m going to trust they got him back to the barn OK and that he’ll be all right.”

JERRY HOLLENDORFER (Rendezvous) -- “I was a little disappointed with his race in the Oceanside [third], but I like to stick with horses I think have talent. I hope he continues to improve. I was surprised at the odds, because he’s been running well here. He was second in the La Jolla after the Oceanside. Joel [Rosario] was in a zone today, so I just told him to ride his race, and he surely did.”

NOTE: Hollendorfer said Rendezvous will be pointed toward the Oak Tree Derby and maybe the Hollywood Derby.

FRACTIONS:  :23.36  :46.93  1:121.11  1:34.90  1:46.88

The stakes win was the fifth of the meet for Joel Rosario (tying him in that department with Mike Smith) and his first in the Del Mar Derby. He now has six stakes wins at Del Mar.

The stakes win was the second of the meet for Jerry Hollendorfer and his first in the Del Mar Derby. (It is also the first time he has won a graded stakes at the track.) He now has seven stakes wins at Del Mar.

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