JC / Railbird

Del Mar Archive

Opening Day at Del Mar

Photo from Del Mar, one of many posted to Flickr through the day.

The Los Angeles Times sets the scene:

They came by cars, limos, trains and planes. Ladies wore hats so brash and colorful that strangers stopped to take photos. Men dressed in white suits and carrying drinks gawked and prowled. It was an atmosphere worthy of a Hollywood premiere.

A record crowd of 45,309 caught two notable performances (charts). In the seventh, Lava Girl, making her debut, breaking from post 11, and the longest shot on the board at 32-1, finished in a dead heat with Go On Babe. The 3-year-old Purge filly is a half-sibling to retired star Lava Man and trained by Doug O’Neill. In the Oceanside Stakes, Twirling Candy, trying turf and two turns for the first time, scored a 2 1/4-length win over pacesetter Macias, running the final quarter in :22.83 (the final furlong in 11:54):

Left at the Gate has more on the undefeated John Sadler trainee, including speculation that he might head to Saratoga for the Travers. (Very interesting. If he were to run, Twirling Candy could join the Omnisurface Stars roster.)

And what about the Polytrack? “The talk has been upbeat,” reported the Union-Tribune on the eve of the opener. Trainer Bob Baffert commented on Facebook, “Track still not to my liking even though we won a race. Hopefully it will tighten down more the next few days.” But other trainers praised the surface: “Hats off to [new track superintendent] Richard Tedesco,” said Doug O’Neill. “It looked like it was pretty fair,” observed John Sadler. So it did, with one winner wire-to-wire, a few off the pace, and a couple closers.

But, wait … the Paulick Report is out with a story this morning that all may not be well. “Del Mar’s Polytrack surface was closed early Thursday morning … because of concerns over the condition of the track.” Developing?

7/23/10 Addendum: Trainer Bruce Headley says two of his horses were injured training on the track. “I was scared to death to run them.”

Posted in Del Mar on July 22, 2010

We Take a Break

… from Saratoga to ask, what’s going on at Del Mar? Jockey fights, kicking horses, drug positives, pot smoking … at least that crowd of munchies-stricken Ziggy Marley fans helped buoy the bottom line.

Posted in Del Mar on August 12, 2008

Del Mar Poly Sires, Week One

Del Mar Polytrack winners, with sires and broodmare sires:

View complete spreadsheet here.
Last year’s leading Del Mar Polytrack sires are off to a slow start, with the exception of Unusual Heat, who had three winners (out of 22 starters) during the meet’s first six days. Event of Year, who went 6-for-15 in 2007, is 0-for-3 after opening week; Tale of the Cat, 5-for-16 in 2007, is 0-for-5; Forestry, 4-for-13 in 2007, is 0-for-3. Sires with multiple winners so far this meet are Tiznow, 3-for-4 (all at distances of 8/8.25 furlongs), including Well Armed, now guaranteed a Breeders’ Cup Classic post after winning the San Diego Handicap; and Explicit, 2-for-3. On the broodmare sire side, the late Buckaroo — by Buckpasser, winner of the Peter Pan, sire of 11 active sons at stud, known as a speed influence — is 2-for-3. One week’s worth of results is hardly a sample size from which to draw strong conclusions, but the results do suggest that with the faster times and fairer track this year, there is a shift back to pedigrees that appreciate a quick surface and pace.

Posted in Del Mar on July 22, 2008

It’s Unofficial

… claimer turned stakes star Lava Man is retired, after fading to finish last in the Eddie Read Handicap on Sunday. Retirement plans are pending:

West Coast Funny Cide! Doesn’t seem like a bad way to keep the $5.2 million earner working, especially if the 7-year-old gelding enjoys being at the racetrack …

Posted in Del Mar on July 22, 2008