The Padre © Benoit Photo
Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables and Naify’s The Padre, making only his second start in the United States, closed stoutly through the lane Sunday in the 84th edition of the La Jolla Handicap for 3-year-olds at Del Mar and proved best by a half length.
The Irish-bred bay by the Dubawi stallion Ghalyyath had won his only start in his native land back in January before being purchased privately by his current connections and turned over to ace grass conditioner Phil D’Amato. The trainer had him ready for a big outing in June at Santa Anita – a fast-closing second in an allowance race – then moved him up another notch today in the $100,500 stakes.
Finishing second was Blinkers On Racing Stable, Janlois Racing, Valinor Racing Sables, et al’s Freedom’s Not Free, who was a neck better than Dutch Girl Holdings, Irving Ventures, Meathe, et al’s Artislas.
The winner ran the mile on the lawn in 1:42.76 and paid $4 for $2 as the even-money favorite. He earned $60,000 for the score and now has purses of $79,585.
The La Jolla is one of the track’s trio of grass stakes for 3-year-olds that culminates in the championship test – the $300,000, Grade II Caesars Sportsbook Del Mar Derby, which will be run at nine furlongs on Sunday, August 31.
UMBERTO RISPOLI (The Padre, winner) – “Phil (trainer D’Amato) told me ‘Make sure you get him out of the gate OK, then after that he’s all yours.’ I got on this horse for the first time last week when I worked him and he felt good. He gave me some confidence. I could tell he’s got a good mind. I think he’s the kind that is only going to get better.”
PHIL D’AMATO (The Padre, winner) – “It wasn’t a great set up. He’s a horse that comes from behind and when they went three-quarters in fourteen he still, from that spot being wide and coming home, he had to fly. It just shows this horse has a brilliant turn of foot.”
FRACTIONS: :24.66 :49.291:14.25 1:37.29 1:42.76
The stakes win was the third of the meet for rider Rispoli, but his second (Smooth Like Straight, 2020) in the La Jolla. He now has 38 stakes wins at Del Mar.
The stakes win was the fourth of the meet for trainer D’Amato, but his first in the La Jolla. He now has 69 stakes wins at Del Mar.
The winning owners are Little Red Feather Racing (Billy Koch), Sterling Stables and Naify.