Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Breeders’ Cup Challenge Races at Del Mar: Del Mar Handicap, Pacific Classic, Pat O’Brien, Rancho Bernardo
Posted on Tuesday, August 19th, 2008
The 2008 Breeders’ Cup Challenge dominates Del Mar this weekend, with six horse races: the August 23 Del Mar Handicap (G2), the August 24 Pacific Classic (G1), Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3), Del Mar Mile Handicap (G2) and the Pat O’Brien Handicap (G2).
Full Field Appears Likely For Del Mar Handicap
With the decision by race horse trainer John Sadler to send Tissy Fit into the Del Mar Handicap (G2), a full field seems likely for Saturday’s 1 3/8-mile race on Del Mar’s Jimmy Durante Turf Course.
John Sadler was still looking for a rider this morning, but he said Tissy Fit is a “go” for the $250,000 race that is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge’s “Win and You’re In” program. The winner is guaranteed a spot in the $3-million Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at 1 1/2 miles at Santa Anita Park Saturday, October 25.
Along with Tissy Fit, the list of committed runners includes Neil Drysdale’s Cedar Mountain, a pair from the Mike Mitchell barn, Church Service with jockey Brice Blanc and You Got Me Rocking with jockey Joel Rosario; Transduction Gold with jockey Jon Court; Runaway Dancer and Spring House.
On the “possible” Del Mar Handicap entries list are Heroi do Bafra and Mr. Universo, both trained by Paulo Lobo; Porfido, from race horse trainer Robert Frankel’s barn, and Gary Mandella’s American Imperium.
Four Pacific Classic Prospects Work Coast To Coast
Two Saratoga-based Pacific Classic prospects, one at Churchill Downs and one at Del Mar, put in their final serious works for Sunday’s $1-million Pacific Classic (G1) at 1 1/4 miles on the Del Mar main track.
Pacific Classic defending champion Student Council polished off his final work with an easy half-mile in 49.89 at Saratoga for race horse trainer Steven Asmussen.
Out of Control, one of two Robert Frankel trainees heading for the Pacific Classic, went 5 furlongs in 1:00.12, also at Saratoga. Frankel’s Hollywood Gold Cup winner Mast Track came out of his 6-furlong Sunday move at Del Mar in good shape and is going forward, said Frankel assistant Humberto Ascanio.
At Churchill Downs in Kentucky, the Bill Mott-trained Go Between was sent a half-mile in 48.20 over a fast track, while at Del Mar, Mostacolli Mort, third in Del Mar’s San Diego Handicap (G2) July 19, worked 5 furlongs in 1:02.60.
That leaves winner and runner-up in the San Diego Handicap Well Armed and Surf Cat, as well as Delosvientos to finish Pacific Classic preparations. The first two named are scheduled to work Tuesday and Delosvientos is on a Wednesday work schedule.
Out of Control, Student Council and Barcola, who worked at Belmont Park Sunday, will ship to Del Mar Tuesday, and Go Between on Wednesday.
Del Mar’s Pacific Classic entries will be taken Wednesday and the post-position draw will be held Wednesday night at The Lodge at Torrey Pines.
In addition to the aforementioned runners, these are the other Pacific Classic prospects: Awesome Gem, McCann’s Mojave and Zappa, adding up to a field of 12.
Trainer John Sadler’s Tissy Fit had been a prospect, but the trainer said this morning the horse would go in the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap (G2) instead.
The winner of the Pacific Classic, a race which is part of the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Challenge, will be one of the Breeders’ Cup horses for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on October 25 at Santa Anita Park.
Midnight Lute Turns In Another Sterling Workout For The Pat O’Brien Handicap
Midnight Lute, 2007 champion sprinter who is listed as a possible starter in Sunday’s $300,000 Pat O’Brien Handicap (G2), worked a sharp 5 furlongs in 58.20, with a final quarter in 23 seconds flat on the main track at Del Mar.
Race horse trainer Bob Baffert has not committed definitely to the 7-furlong Pat O’Brien Handicap, considering, also, Saratoga’s Forego Handicap (G1) Saturday, August 30. Jockey Garrett Gomez has the call here if Midnight Lute goes in the Pat O’Brien.
Joining the potential Pat O’ Brien Handicap field is Lewis Michael from the Arlington Park barn of Wayne Catalano. The 5-year-old son of Rahy will be making only his second start of the year. In his debut, Lewis Michael finished fourth, beaten a length, in Arlington Park’s Sea O’ Erin Handicap July 26.
While Lewis Michael joined the group, Johnny Eves defected. Race horse trainer Jay Robbins said this morning he plans to run the sprinter in the overnight Del Mar’s $85,000 Windy Sands Handicap at 1 mile Monday, September 1.
Also expected for the race in the Pat O’Brien Handicap are Arson Squad, with jockey David Flores; Barbecue Eddie, Aaron Gryder; Bullsbay, Victor Espinoza; Doppio, no rider named; Five Star Thief, Joel Rosario; How’s Your Halo, no rider; Hurry Up Austin, Jon Court, and In Summation, Corey Nakatani.
As part of the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Challenge, the Pat O’Brien Handicap winner will automatically become part of the Breeders’ Cup field for the October 25 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita.
Consistent Dearest Trickski Heads Ranch Bernardo
Race horse trainer John Sadler’s ultra-consistent Dearest Trickski, with 10 wins in 15 lifetime starts, heads a list of six fillies and mares headed for Sunday’s $200,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) at 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track of Del Mar.
The big prize in the Ranch Bernardo horse race is a guaranteed spot in the $1-million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint set for Friday, October 24 at Santa Anita.
Sadler, who won the Rancho Bernardo three years in a row, 1995-97, with Track Gal, brings Dearest Trickski to the race from a solid victory in Hollywood Park’s A Gleam Handicap (G2), a race in which she defeated, among others, Magnificience, who is back to tackle her again in the Rancho Bernardo.
Also expected: C.E.R.F Handicap winner and runner-up Highland Torree and La Tee, multiple stakes winner Tiz Elemental, and 2007 Cal-bred 2-year-old filly champion Spring Awakening.
The Christophe Clement-trained Society Hostess is possible entry for the Ranch Bernardo Handicap race.
Horse racing news edited from www.dmtc.com.
Tags: American Imperium, Arson Squad, Awesome Gem, Barbecue Eddie, Barcola, Bullsbay, Cedar Mountain, Church Service, Dearest Trickski, Delosvientos, Doppio, Five Star Thief, Go Between, Heroi do Bafra, Highland Torree, How's Your Halo, Hurry Up Austin, In Summation, La Tee, Lewis Michael, Magnificience, Mast Track, McCann's Mojave, Midnight Lute, Mostacolli Mort, Mr. Universo, Out of Control, Porfido, Runaway Dancer, Society Hostess, Spring Awakening, Spring House, Student Council, Surf Cat, Tissy Fit, Tiz Elemental, Transduction Gold, Well Armed, You Got Me Rocking, Zappa
"Breeders’ Cup Challenge Races at Del Mar: Del Mar Handicap, Pacific Classic, Pat O’Brien, Rancho Bernardo" was posted on Tuesday, August 19th, 2008 at 1:19 pm and is filed under Del Mar Race Track, Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Race Tracks News, Stakes Races, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Previous Horse Racing News Entry:
1980 Kentucky Derby Winner Filly Genuine Risk Dies
Next Horse Racing News Entry:
Saratoga Spotlight Shines on Travers Contenders Galore