DEL MAR, Calif.— John M.B. O’Connor’s Astronaut returned $50.00 for a $2 wager at Del Mar Saturday when he captured the Grade II, $302,500 Del Mar Handicap Presented by The Japan Racing Association by half a length.
The 4-year-old Quality Road colt had Hall of Fame rider Victor Espinoza aboard as they tracked the early leaders, swung out entering the stretch, then outran his 10 rivals to take down a first prize of $180,000.
“This didn’t surprise me. I thought in his last race he was a little too close. And I think the race (San Juan Capistrano) was a little too far for him, so we changed the way he ran a little bit today. I just let him break and get into rhythm. If he was happy, I was happy. He wasn’t up on the bridle and running so easily that when we got to the half-mile pole, I started to get a little excited. When I asked him, he finished strong for me, and it makes me happy to win this race for John (trainer Shirreffs). We have a very good relationship. He’s always been there for me, and I’ve been there for him. He’s been there for me a little more lately,” Espinoza commented.
Trained by John Shirreffs, Astronaut won only the second race of his career and he increased his earnings to $285,860.
“Puts a nice bandage on it (loss by favored Express Train in the TVG Pacific Classic), right. I’m just so happy for Astronaut and his connections; they are really great owners and it’s great to win for them. We wanted to run him long, but we weren’t sure how long and when he ran so well going a mile and three-quarters (second in the San Juan Capistrano at Santa Anita, June 19) it seemed like this was possible,” Shirreffs remarked.
Fernando-Diaz-Valdez Stable, Baalbek Corporation and Don Alberto Stable’s Master Piece ran second, a neck in front of Ellwood Johnson Trust, Timmy Time and Ken Tevelde’s Acclimate. The winner covered the mile and three-eighths on turf in 2:15.97.
Astronaut paid $50.00, $21.20 and $10.60 for his upset. Master Piece returned $25.00 and $14.80, while Acclimate paid off at $8.00.
Besides his winning purse, Astronaut also earned his owner an all-entry-fees-paid admission to the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf, scheduled to be run at Del Mar on Saturday, November 6.
Winning his third Del Mar ‘Cap, it was Espinoza’s first stakes win of the meet. He now has 106 stakes wins at Del Mar, third most among all riders. With 19 stakes wins at Del Mar, it was Shirreffs second of the meet and second in the ‘Cap.
Del Mar Handicap Replay
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club Press Release
Photo: Astronaut, (Benoit)
