Rallying from next-to-last, Mega Heat and jockey Corey Nakatani narrowly prevailed in Thursday’s $65,000 feature at Del Mar, a one-mile skirmish over the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course for older Thoroughbreds.
Mega Heat, a seven-year-old gelded son of Unusual Heat, moved into contention from the outside entering the stretch and outfinished Power Ped in the final sixteenth to score by a half-length in 1:34.86. Hey Dude, the 6-5 favorite in the field of seven horses, was a close-up third, another half-length away at the wire. Fourth was Super Ability.
Mega Heat, owned by the partnership of Alesia, Ciaglia and Dyrdek and trained by Peter Eurton, was scoring his ninth victory in 21 starts. He returned $11.60, $5.60 and $3. Runner-up Power Ped paid $8 and $4.40, while Hay Dude returned $3 to show.
A late scratch at the gate was an uncoupled stablemate of Mega Heat, Bettys Bambino who lost a shoe and was withdrawn by the stewards after a short delay.
With no six-winner tickets in Thursday’s Pick Six, Friday’s program will feature a carryover of $42,533. Post time for the first race is 12:30 p.m. and the Pick Six will be conducted on races three through eight.
Thursday’s attendance was 3,537.