Journalism © Zoe Metz
JOURNALISM PUTS IN FIRST WORK SINCE HASKELL AT DEL MAR
Another busy morning for the clockers at Del Mar but there was one work that stood out from the rest.
Journalism put in his first work since arriving back from the Jersey Shore following his victory in the G1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park last month.
The Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes runner-up -- and Preakness winner -- returned to trainer Michael McCarthy’s barn on the Del Mar backside a few days after the Haskell and has spent the past three weeks being pampered by the connections while he recovers from his cross-country journey.
But today it was back to work for Journalism who went four furlongs in :48.40 with rider Tony Gutierrez in the saddle. McCarthy clocked his colt with a final quarter in 24 flat and from the wire to the seven-eighths pole in :12.20.
“A very good breeze for his first work back,” McCarthy notes. “That’s just what you’re looking for.”
The son of Curlin looked like his old self, bouncing back like he always does regardless of how far he travels or how grueling the race.
“It seems like that,” acknowledges McCarthy. “He’s had three weeks since he’s run so he’s had plenty of time to get over his trip. We’ll see what he does next week.”
Primary owner Aron Wellman was standing alongside McCarthy in the Del Mar grandstand and was equally impressed.
“Very smooth, very within himself,” was Wellman’s assessment. “Looks like he was moving very well. Probably looking to do a little bit more, but perfect just to get him back in the game.
“We gave him an extra few days (more) than usual to get back on the worktab,” Wellman continued. “He seems to have appreciated that. Can’t speak enough about his constitution both physically and mentally.”
Neither McCarthy nor Wellman would say what race is next for Journalism. The two options this month are the G1 Travers at Saratoga in two weeks or the G1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar August 30.
“This is just the initial step for him,” Wellman added. “Good to see him stretch his legs again. I think he showed us everything we wanted to see today and we’ll get a better gauge next week. Just turn up the dials a little bit more.”
BAFFERT CONTINUES PARADE OF 2-YEAR-OLDS IN G3 SORRENTO STAKES
Some of the best 2-year-old fillies on the grounds will be on display Sunday in the 57th running of the G3 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar, the local prep for next month’s G1 Debutante.
A well-matched six pack of runners will go to the gate including Bob Baffert’s Himika, a daughter of Curlin who won her debut by six lengths at Santa Anita in June. She’s another example of the quality 2-year-olds Baffert has in the barn that are ready to go.
“I have a lot of horses to run here,” Baffert explains. “I’m trying to get races into them. A lot of 2-year olds that are going to start stacking up and we need to run them.”
Baffert has won the Sorrento eight times including last year with Nooni.
He’ll face a couple of shippers who will be running at Del Mar for the first time. Dreaming of Alys ran her debut race for trainer Gary Capuano at Laurel Park in June, winning by 4 ¾ lengths. She has since shipped out west and will be racing for the first time for trainer Phil D’Amato.
The other shipper is trainer Peter Miller’s Mo’ Em Down, a 9 ½-length winner last out at Churchill Downs. It was her second try at breaking her maiden.
My Kat also won big in her last race, taking a $50,000 optional claiming maiden race at Del Mar two weeks ago, crossing the line 8 ¼ lengths ahead of the competition. She wired the field that day but doesn’t necessarily have to be on the lead, according to her connections.
“She’s shown she has some speed in her,” trainer George Papaprodromou says. “I don’t think there’s much speed in the race but we’ll see how it goes. If somebody else is faster, we’ll sit right off and go from there. She’s improved a lot but this is a tough spot.”
Stuffy Mist is also coming into the Sorrento off a $50,000 optional claiming maiden race win at Del Mar. She went wire-to-wire and won by three lengths in her second career outing.
Thank You India is the only one of the six that has yet to visit the winner’s circle, finishing third in her debut at Del Mar opening weekend. She’s since thrown a bullet work for trainer Andy Mathis.
“That was a pretty fast time for one of my horses,” Mathis states. “Usually I don’t work them that fast. She’s really sharp. I liked the effort in her last race. I don’t think she was necessarily cranked up to run the race of her life first time out. I think it was a good race to move forward off of, a good stepping stone to a better race for her.”
The Sorrento Stakes is Race 3 on the nine-race Sunday card. Probable post time is 3 p.m.
Here’s the field from the rail out with the jockeys and the morning line odds: Himika (Juan Hernandez, 6/5); Dreaming of Alys (Antonio Fresu, 7/2); Mo’ Em Down (Umberto Rispoli, 3-1); My Kat (Diego Herrera, 10-1); Thank You India (Ricky Gonzalez, 15-1), and Stuffy Mist (Armando Ayuso, 5-1).
GOLD PHOENIX TO PREP IN LOADED ALLOWANCE RACE SATURDAY
A couple of times already this summer the Del Mar racing office has put together allowance races that could easily pass for stakes and they’ve done it again today with a non-winners of three allowance optional claimer for 3-year-olds and up.
It’s attracted the three-time winner of the G2 Del Mar Handicap, Gold Phoenix, as well as a three-time graded stakes winner in Beyond Brilliant, as well as this year’s winner of the G3 San Simeon at Santa Anita Air Force Red. Four of the horses are dropping in from the $100,000 Wickerr Stakes run opening weekend.
Gold Phoenix is using Saturday’s allowance as a prep for another bid at the Del Mar Handicap on August 30, on the Pacific Classic undercard.
“We just need to get a race into him,” trainer Phil D’Amato says. “Timing-wise this was the only race. We just want him to finish up well and have him ready to roll in the Del Mar Handicap.”
Beyond Brilliant, who races out of trainer John Shirreff’s barn, returned to the races last month and ran ninth of 10 horses in the Wickerr. He had not run since November of 2022 when he finished second in the G2 Seabiscuit at Del Mar. Earlier that year the son of Twirling Candy had won the G2 Charles Whittingham, the G2 Eddie Read and the G2 City of Hope.
But then he suffered a bowed tendon which necessitated the long layoff.
Air Force Red also ran in the Wickerr. Like today’s race, the Wickerr was one mile on the turf. Air Force Red ran eighth that day and trainer Leonard Powell is hoping for a better result today.
Final Boss may be the speed of the race. He set the pace in the Wickerr before fading to fourth.
Astronomer was fifth in the Wickerr, his first race in five months. He has raced almost exclusively in graded stakes company over the past couple of years.
The salty allowance test is Race 7 on the 10-race Saturday card. Probable post is 5 p.m.
Here’s the field from the rail out with the jockeys and the morning line odds: Scoobie Quando (Kazushi Kimura 12-1); Gold Phoenix (Kyle Frey, 6/5); Final Boss (Juan Hernandez, 4-1); Il Bellator (William Antongeorgi III, 20-1); Astronomer (Antonio Fresu, 5-1); Air Force Red (Armando Ayuso, 8-1); St Anthony (Umberto Rispoli, 15-1), and Beyond Brilliant (Hector I. Berrios, 6-1).
GLATT TO BE INDUCTED INTO WASHINGTON HALL OF FAME
Trainer Mark Glatt has been honored in his home state of Washington. The 52-year old conditioner from Spokane has been named to the Washington Hall of Fame and will be inducted August 16.
Glatt grew up just minutes from Emerald Downs, Washington’s premier racetrack. His father, Ron, was a very successful Washington trainer and Mark has followed in his footsteps, first in the Evergreen State, then farther south in Southern California. He was Del Mar’s leading trainer for the 2024 Bing Crosby Meet and followed it up by winning Santa Anita’s winter meet training title.
Glatt has over 1,300 victories and has amassed over $53-million in earnings in 30 years of training. He’s currently tied for leading trainer at Del Mar. Some of his top horses include Dr. Schivel, Collusion Illusion, Dr Venkman and Sharp Samurai.
FRIDAY POST TIME MOVED UP NEXT WEEK
You know the summer is moving right along when Del Mar’s Friday post times start moving up. Beginning next Friday, first post will be 3 p.m., one hour earlier than the first four weeks of the meet.
Part of the issue is earlier sunsets, but also the setting sun and its position during the later races. Jockeys report looking directly into the sun as they approach the far turn, hindering their visibility. The earlier post eliminates the issue.
Friday’s twilight cards have been a big hit with fans who can get in a full day at work and still get out to the track and play a few races to start the weekend.
JOCKEYS KARAOKE ON TAP AT THE BELLY UP SUNDAY
The sixth annual Del Mar jockeys karaoke contest is back for another night of music and fun this Sunday at the Belly Up in Solana Beach. Proceeds go to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. It gets started at 8 p.m.
Up to 13 riders are expected to perform including Umberto Rispoli and Kyle Frey. There will be silent and live auctions. Tickets are $75. Then strap in and get ready for a night of laughs.
COOLING OUT: Trainer John Sadler says Sammy Davis, Friday’s winner of the $100,000 Graduation Stakes, returned in good order. No plans have been made for the gelding’s next outing…We’re beginning to see many stakes winners at Del Mar returning to the worktab. Saturday Nysos, winner of the G2 San Diego, worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 and G2 Eddie Read winner Formidable Man worked four furlongs in :48.00…Notable other works on Saturday: Casalu (4f, :47.20); Endlessly (4f, :47.80); Stay Hot (4f, :50.40); Spirit of Makena (5f, 1:02.80); Citizen Bull (6f, 1:13.00); Hope Road (6f, 1:12.00), and Sugar Fish (6f, 1:14.00). A total of 211 horses put in official works at Del Mar on Saturday.