Klimt © Zoe Metz for Del Mar Thoroughbred Kaleem Shah’s Klimt provided trainer Bob Baffert with an amazing 13th triumph in the Grade I Del Mar Futurity Monday as he scored impressively in the seven-furlong...

With Honors © Zoe Metz for Del Mar Thoroughbred Club FLAVIEN PRAT (With Honors, winner) – “She was rank on me early, but I got her up front and near the leader and that seemed...

Richard Baltas © Benoit MABEE AND DERBY-WINNING TRAINERS END MEETING ON HIGH NOTE In the winner’s circle after Free Rose’s victory in the Grade II $250,000 Del Mar Derby on Sunday, trainer Richard Baltas looked...

Free Rose © Benoit Free Rose, who won the La Jolla Handicap at odds of almost 30-1 early last month, proved that triumph was no fluke Sunday as he scored a narrow victory at 11-1...

Avenge © Zoe Metz for Del Mar Thoroughbred Club FLAVIEN PRAT (Avenge, winner) – “Richard (trainer Mandella) said: ‘Just stay calm.’ This filly has a little breathing problem and she needs to relax. Today she...

Straight Fire © Zoe Metz for Del Mar Thoroughbred Club STRAIGHT TALK FROM KEITH DESORMEAUX ON STRAIGHT FIRE J. Keith Desormeaux has had a couple of very good 2-year-olds the past two years. Texas Red...

Union Strike © Benoit Union Strike, second in her career debut July 31, broke her maiden in style Saturday with an upset victory in the featured Grade I $300,000 Del Mar Debutante for two-year-old fillies....

Bowies Hero © Benoit RAFAEL BEJARANO (Bowies Hero, winner) – “The race came up just the way I hoped. I loved my position. On the turn, I swung him out and asked him and he...

Chasing Aces © Benoit Del Mar’s 77th summer season of Thoroughbred racing will be climaxed Monday* with a vintage renewal of the Grade I $300,000 Del Mar Futurity, the seven-furlong contest for two-year-olds which has...

Trojan Nation © Benoit BIG WEEKEND FOR TROJAN NATION: PEOPLE TODAY, HORSE TOMORROW Trojan Nation, the term for the legions of USC sports followers, will be fired up and focused late this afternoon when the...

Mo Soul © Benoit Mo Soul, overlooked in the wagering at 20-1, outbattled 13-10 favored California Diamond in the stretch to win the $150,345 I’m Smokin Stakes for California-bred two-year-olds Friday at Del Mar. With...

Sobradora Inc © Benoit Del Mar’s action-packed Labor Day Holiday weekend of Thoroughbred racing continues Sunday with another stakes doubleheader featuring two highly-competitive Grade II events, the $200,000 John C. Mabee Stakes for older fillies...

John Sadler © Benoit SADLER COULD STRIKE AGAIN WITH MORGANITE IN DEBUTANTE In retrospect the results weren’t that surprising. But the stages on which trainer John Sadler pulled off upsets to record two of his...

Tiz A Kiss © Benoit Cicero Farms’ Tiz a Kiss, benefiting from a well-timed ride by jockey Kent Desormeaux, asserted herself in the stretch to win Del Mar’s feature race Thursday, a one-mile contest over...

Champagne Room © Benoit Del Mar kicks off its three-day Labor Day Holiday weekend of racing Saturday with a stakes double-header, spotlighting top two-year-old fillies in the Grade I $300,000 Del Mar Debutante and their...

Tom Ables © Zoe Metz at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club NO. 1 AZTEC FAN ABLES IS ALSO A FAVORITE SON OF DEL MAR The gang of photographers jockeying for position near the starting gate for...

Vale Dori © Benoit Photo Argentine-bred Vale Dori, the 1-2 betting choice under jockey Rafael Bejarano, delivered as expected Wednesday with a workmanlike winning performance in the featured $79,290 Tranquility Lake Stakes for older fillies...

California Diamond © Benoit Rockingham Ranch’s California Diamond, who earned his stakes spurs in the Santa Anita Juvenile and then was runner-up in Del Mar’s Graduation Stakes in early August, heads a field of seven...

American Cleopatra © Zoe Metz for Del Mar Thoroughbred Club SEVEN ENTERED FOR DEBUTANTE, 14 FOR JUVENILE TURF SATURDAY As the saying goes, two out of three ain’t bad. And Hall of Fame trainer Bob...

Belvoir Bay © Benoit English-bred Belvoir Bay, piloted by the red-hot Norberto Arroyo, Jr., grabbed the lead from the gate and never relinquished it in scoring a wire-to-wire triumph in the featured Grade III $100,000...