Sharp Samurai

PREPARATIONS CONTINUE APACE FOR PACIFIC CLASSIC ONE WEEK HENCE

Four nominees to the TVG Pacific Classic underwent workouts this morning and two marquee runners are expected to put in their final exercises tomorrow with the $500,000 signature event of the meeting set for next Saturday.

In alphabetical order the morning workers today were: Dark Vader (5 furlongs, :59.00), Improbable (5f, 1:00.60), Midcourt (5f, 1:02.20) and Sharp Samurai (5f, 1:02.00).

Defending Classic champion Higher Power is scheduled to be put through a final workout Sunday at around 6:30 as is San Diego Handicap winner and presumed Classic favorite Maximum Security.

Dark Vader, coming in following a one-mile allowance victory here on July 25, had exercise rider Jessica D’Amato, daughter of trainer Phil D’Amato, in the irons. They broke off about 14 lengths behind Tim Yakteen-trained Big Talker and made up the ground by the finish line.

“You never plan for anything like that, it just happened,” trainer Peter Eurton said. “I thought it went very well and (Dark Vader) was well within himself.”

Improbable, impressive when winning the Hollywood Gold Cup on June 6 at Santa Anita and the Whitney at Saratoga on August 1, went the first quarter in :24.40 and was “gliding all the way,” clocker Toby Turrell said.

Midcourt, who put Maximum Security to an extreme test and only lost by a nose in the San Diego Handicap, went the first three furlongs in :37.40 and maintained an even pace in what clockers said was a typical work for the John Shirreffs trainee.

Sharp Samurai is nominated for both the Classic and the Del Mar Handicap on turf the same day. A decision will be forthcoming Sunday when entries close and post positions are drawn.

Nominations to the TVG Pacific Classic closed Thursday with the connections of 13 horses paying $300 to indicate serious consideration for the race. Horses not nominated can be supplementally entered at a cost of $5,000 before the close of entries and post position draw tomorrow.

Those nominated, in alphabetical order with owners and trainers, are: Combatant (Hronis Racing; John Sadler), Dark Vader (Estate of Sharon Alesia, Burns Racing, Ciaglia Racing, et al; Peter Eurton); Higher Power (Hronis; Sadler); Improbable (China Horse Club International, SF Racing, Winstar Farm; Bob Baffert); Maximum Security (Gary & Mary West, Marnier or Tabor, et al; Baffert); McKinzie (Pegram, Watson or Weitman; Baffert); Midcourt (C R K Stable; John Shirreffs); Mirinaque (Maria C. Munoz; Munoz); Multiplier (Wachtel Stable, Barber or Kerr; Peter Miller); Potantico (Holly & David Wilson; Vladimir Cerin); Sharp Samurai (Red Baron’s Barn, Rancho Temescal or Glatt; Mark Glatt); Two Thirty Five (Manson, Nielsen or Rasmussen, et al; Richard Baltas); United (LNJ Foxwoods; Richard Mandella).

OAKS WILL BE GO TIME FOR FULLY PREPPED WARREN’S SHOWTIME

Warren’s Showtime worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.00 Friday afternoon at Del Mar before the races with Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith aboard.

Clocker Toby Turrell had splits of :12.20, :24.60, :36.60 and :48.00 with a gallop-out to 6 furlongs in 1:12.40 for the Craig Lewis trainee who is being pointed to the Grade I, $250,000 Del Mar Oaks on the grass next Saturday.

“I thought she worked very well, I was pleased with it,” Lewis said this morning. “I had her coming home in 12 (seconds) the last eighth. Now only two things can beat her. A bad trip or a better horse.”

Warren’s Showtime, a California-bred daughter of Clubhouse Ride bred and owned by Benjamin C. Warren, has five wins in 11 career starts and earnings of $430,251. She made up ground late to finish third in the one mile San Clemente Stakes on July 25 and will have an extra eighth of a mile to work with in the Oaks.

There were 19 names put in nomination for the second Grade I on the Pacific Classic Day program, which also includes three other graded stakes.

In alphabetical order the Oaks nominees, with trainer in parenthesis, are: Applecross (Richard Baltas); Aqua Seaform Shame (Baltas); Beguiled (Phil D’Amato); California Kook (Peter Miller); Carpe Vinum (D’Amato); Croughavouke (Jeff Mullins); Éclair (Bob Baffert); Guitty (Leonard Powell); Laura’s Light (Miller); Lazy Daisy (Doug O’Neill); Little Bird (Baltas); Merneith  (Baffert); Miss Extra (Richard Mandella); Neige Blanche (Powell); Parkour (Mandella); Sharing (H. Graham Motion); Shines Her Light (John Sadler); Trickle In (Dan Blacker), and Warren’s Showtime.

JOCKEYS RACE A SEE-SAW BATTLE; BIG DECISION LOOMS FOR PRAT

The battle for leading jockey between defending champion Flavien Prat and Del Mar first-timer Umberto Rispoli has been one of streaks and answers from day one of the meeting.

Rispoli had seven winners to Prat’s one the first three days. Prat came back  to tie things, with Rispoli and Abel Cedillo, at nine over the next three sessions. Prat went ahead by two. Rispoli countered and took a lead by three.

With three wins on Friday, while Rispoli was blanked, they’re tied again entering the second half of the meeting. Prat has 24 victories from 102 mounts, Rispoli 24  from 94.

And Prat has a decision to make with a Tuesday deadline. Tell Churchill Downs to count him in for the Kentucky Derby on September 5 and get there by 11 a.m. on August 31 while meeting all COVID-19 testing protocols. Or RSVP with regrets regarding the Run for the Roses and stay at Del Mar with goals of:  a.) defending his riding title, making it three summer championships in the last four years and b.) taking a shot at the record for stakes wins in a season.

Prat has eight stakes victories. The record of 13 was set by Rafael Bejarano in 2012.

“The reasons for staying here this year far exceed the reasons for going to the Kentucky Derby,” Derek Lawson, Prat’s agent, said. “But the Kentucky Derby is the Super Bowl and World Series (of the sport).”

EASY WAY TO ORDER PHOTOS FROM ANY DEL MAR RACE THIS SUMMER

For anyone wanting to order photos from any race run at Del Mar this summer, there’s an easy way to go. Track photographer Benoit Photo has it all set up for you at this website: www.benoitphoto.com/store

You can view photos there and order them right on the spot. Race photos are uploaded to the site shortly after each race is run.

Del Mar’s meet runs from July 10 to September 7.

CLOSERS -- The draw for next Saturday’s Grade I, $500,000 TVG Pacific Classic will be aired on TVG and Del Mar’s simulcast signal at 1:30 tomorrow…. Del Mar’s Pacific Classic Betting Challenge – scheduled for TVG Pacific Classic Day next Saturday – is now open to entries via DMTC.com at the Handicapping Contest link. The “live money” contest requires a $4,000 admission fee for the on-line only event and focuses on Del Mar’s next Saturday card, which features five Graded stakes. Only 180 spots are available and interested players are encouraged not to wait… Eddie Read Stakes winner United, nominated to both the TVG Pacific Classic and the same-day $200,000 Grade II Del Mar Handicap by the Japan Racing Association, is still most likely to wind up in the Handicap, trainer Richard Mandella said. The Del Mar Handicap is a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf. United will have his final work Monday or Tuesday … Combatant, also nominated to the Classic and the Handicap, will go in the Handicap as well, trainer John Sadler said. Combatant’s final work was 6 furlongs in 1:15.20 on the turf Thursday… Trainer Peter Eurton said Storm the Court will have another work or two here and, if all is satisfactory, ship to Louisville on September 1 for the September 5 Kentucky Derby … Selected works from 197 officially timed this morning: Galilean (5f, 1:01.00); Giant Expectations (5f, :59.80); Flagstaff (6f, 1:11.40), and Laura’s Light (6f, 1:13.20) … Condition Book Number Three, covering August 28 to September 7, the final weeks of the meeting, is out and available at the Racing Office and other places around the track.  

Del Mar Statistics

Presented by Torrey Hollistics

Jockey Standings

(Current Through August 14, 2020 Inclusive)  

Trainer Standings

(Current Through August 14, 2020 Inclusive) 

Winning Favorites Report
(Current Through August 14, 2020 Inclusive)

Winning favorites -- 46 out of 146 -- 31.51%
Winning favorites on dirt -- 28 out of 80 -- 35.00%
Winning favorites on turf -- 18 out of 66 -- 27.27%
Winning odds-on favorites -- 11 out of 21 -- 52.38%
In-the-Money favorites -- 92 out of 146 -- 63.01%
In-the-Money odds-on favorites -- 20 out of 21 -- 95.24%