Agave Racing, Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables & Marsha Naify’s Gold Phoenix seeks an unprecedented fourth consecutive victory in Saturday’s $300,000 Del Mar Handicap (G2). The 1 3/8-mile turf test is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win & You’re In” event for the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) set to be held in two months over the same course.
The 7-year-old Irish-bred was tenth in his first Breeders’ Cup appearance in 2022, but improved to earn a pair of fourth-place finishes in 2023 and 2024. He hasn’t won a race since this event a year ago, but missed some training due to a slight injury and runs here off a third in an allowance race three weeks ago.
Eclipse Award winner Flavien Prat, who packed his tack and moved to Saratoga a couple of seasons ago after dominating in Southern California for many years, will be back aboard, taking over for Juan Hernandez. Prat was aboard for the gelding’s first Del Mar Handicap victory. The son of Belardo (Ire) drew the far outside in the field of 11, which shouldn’t be much of a problem considering his later running style.
Trainer Pete Eurton entered Stay Hot off a third-place finish in the Eddie Read Stakes (G2) last out. The 4-year-old ridgling won the nine-furlong Texas Turf Classic at Lone Star Park on June 28 and stretches out in distance here. The speedy front-running type gets the services of Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith and the pair will break from post position four.
Overall a total of seven graded stakes winners are set to line up and race in this Pacific Classic (G1) undercard event, including San Juan Capistrano Stakes (G3) winner Nitti, who is back in action for the first time since that victory 2 ½ months ago. The Irish-bred can certainly handle this distance considering the Capistrano is 1 ¾ miles, and has a steady series of workouts over the Del Mar turf course all summer for trainer Leonard Powell. He’s another who will sit off the pace and will carry jockey Armando Ayuso.
John Shirreffs will tighten the girth on Atitlan, winner of the San Luis Rey Stakes (G3) at 12 furlongs and Charles Whittingham Stakes (G2) at 10 furlongs this year, so this distance won’t be a challenge for the 4-year-old. He ran out of distance, likely, in his fifth-place finish in the Shoemaker Mile (G1) last out and will benefit from the stretch out here under Hector Barrios. Atitlan is a half-brother to 2021 Del Mar Handicap winner Astronaut, who was also trained by Shirreffs.
Final Boss, who will likely be up close to the early pace, makes his graded stakes debut off a one-mile allowance score in his most recent start three weeks ago. The American Pharoah colt, who won the Cinema Stakes at Santa Anita last year, is stretching out in distance for the first time, which makes him questionable for the win. John Sadler trains and Juan Hernandez will be in the saddle.
Mondego, who was third in the 2023 Belmont Derby (G1), returns to graded stakes company off an allowance win at this distance over this course a month ago.
Truly Quality, who won the Hollywood Turf Cup (G3) at ten furlongs here last November, is coming off a sixth-place finish (and a near seven-month layoff) in the San Marcos Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita, but has been logging nice works over this course all summer.
The Del Mar Handicap is the final race on an 11-race program that begins at 1:30 p.m. PT.
Anthony Fanticola’s 7-year-old turf sprinter Motorious seeks a third consecutive victory in the $150,000 Green Flash Handicap (G3), a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win & You’re In” event for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on November 1. The Phil D’Amato trainee was second in last year’s Breeders’ Cup behind Starlust and his connections are hoping for a win over his favorite course (3-for-4) and a victory on Racing’s Championship Day in two months.
Motorious is a late-running type who will benefit from an expected hot early pace. He is making his second start of the year after capturing the Daytona Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita back in mid-June. The British-bred is a multiple graded stakes winner and has finished better than second in 16 of his 22 career starts. He’ll be a short-priced favorite but tough to beat.
Queen Maxima is the lone filly in the race and has only finished worse than second once in her ten career starts and that was last out in the one-mile Osunitas Stakes, an effort that could be easily explained by the fact she excels around one turn. She previously racked up five straight turf sprint victories, including two in graded stakes company, and she typically earns speed figures that place her right up with the boys here. Juan Hernandez will be in the irons
D’Amato will also send out Sorrento Sky, an Irish-bred who has an allowance win and a pair of thirds in stakes company so far this year. This is a big step up in class, but he’s consistent and deserves a shot at the next level. Umberto Rispoli rides.
First Peace makes his first start in 11 months and his first has since winning the Eddie D. Stakes (G2) at Santa Anit last September. Mark Glatt trains and has retained jockey Mike Smith for the race.
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