Runaway win, inquiry highlight Del Mar’s holiday session
DEL MAR — There were two $100,000 stakes at Del Mar Monday afternoon.
The first was over at the start. The second wasn’t decided until the stewards took a long look at the replay after the finish.
Show Card won the Tranquility Lake Stakes by 10 lengths after favorite Super Shine nearly stopped after veering away when Liberal Lady stumbled leaving the gate.
Hot Girl Walk won the Generous Portion Stakes after surviving an inquiry for veering in on two rivals — including 3-5 favorite Cayucos — while taking the lead on the far turn. Hot Girl Walk jockey Antonio Fresu, who was disqualified from a win Sunday in a similar situation, finished with four wins Monday to move back into second in the jockey standings.
Super Shine rallied to finish second in the Tranquility Lake. Cayucos faltered late and barely held onto third in the Generous Portion, finishing 15¼ lengths behind the challenged winner.
Show Card triumphed for the very successful team of jockey Juan Hernandez and trainer Bob Baffert. Hot Girl Walk presented trainer Carla Gaines her first stakes victory of Del Mar’s summer meeting.
“Show Card settled down nicely today,” Baffert said after the 3-year-old daughter of Into Mischief won for the third time in her last four starts. But the loss was a fourth-place finish in the Grade II Summer Oaks at Santa Anita when Show Card finished 19¾ lengths behind the winner.
“Her last race was a disaster,” said Baffert, who paused, then added “… speaking of disasters.”
Super Shine entered the gate the 3-5 favorite in the one-mile race for older fillies and mares. She exited the No. 6 gate in trouble.
As the horse in the No. 5 slot Liberal Lady stumbled badly leaving the gate, Super Shine veered sharply to the outside and slowed as the other five entrants headed down the front stretch for the first time. Super Shine was immediately eight to 10 lengths behind the field.
Jockey Hector Berrios made up the deficit going down the backstretch and briefly challenged for the lead before Show Card ($5.40) pulled away. Super Shine passed pace-setting long shot Yuki in the stretch to finish a distant second.
In the six-furlong Generous Portion for 2-year-old fillies, Fresu moved Hot Girl Walk ($13) into the lead from the third-wide lane on the far turn and appeared to be blowing past leaders Thirsty in Vegas and Cayucos when Hot Girl Walk pinched the two inside fillies toward the rail.
The stewards took some time before declaring the race official with Hot Girl Walk on top. In The Air Tonight finished 1¼ lengths back in second in the six-filly field.
“She acted up a little bit when she was in front, you know, but I thought she ran in good style,” Fresu said of Hot Girl Walk. “She ran very well. She is tactical. She has a little bit of speed. When she started running at the 3/8 pole, I tried not to go against her.
“I was very happy to be part of it today.”
“She finally left the gate with some authority,” said Gaines. “Previously, she broke slowly and had to circle the field. Today she was on it and speed holds here. Fresu rode a smart race. She sat right behind the two leaders and then she still showed her kick.”
Fresu had three other wins on the day — One Magic Philly ($4.60) in the first, Kissed by Fire ($9.60) in the sixth and I’m Ripped ($9.40) in the ninth — to move back into second in the jockey standings, although he still trails leader Hernandez by 11 wins with four days to go.
Coming up
Del Mar’s 87th summer meeting ends next weekend with the emphasis on a pair of Grade I stakes for 2-year-olds and the focus on a quartet of Baffert juveniles.
Grade III Sorrento Stakes winner Nooni leads three fillies Baffert has nominated for Saturday’s Del Mar Debutante. He has also nominated Casalu and Tenma while trainer Phil D’Amato has nominated Vodka With a Twist, who ran second to Nooni in the Sorrento.
Baffert has nominated undefeated grade 3 Best Pal Stakes winner Getaway Car — Sunday’s Futurity.
Also on tap next weekend is the Grade II John Mabee Stakes and two juvenile turf stakes.
With Show Card’s win Monday, Baffert goes into the final four days with a four-race lead (21-17) over John Sadler and Doug O’Neill in the trainer standings. O’Neill had three winners Monday – Pavel is Appealing ($6.60) in the second, Upstart Yankee ($8.20) in the seventh and I’m Ripped with Fresu.
NOTABLE
Apprentice jockey Welfin Orantes scored his first win at Del Mar with Upstart Yankee.