Du Jour victorious in the Del Mar Mile (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
> Ceiling Crusher Trounces Competition in GIII Torrey Pines
>> Motorious Motors Home in GIII Green Flash
>>> Gold Phoenix Rises and Shines in GII Del Mar Handicap
Del Mar Press Release
DEL MAR, Calif.— On the FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic undercard were four additional graded stakes with exciting finishes.
Baffert and Lanni’s Du Jour caught a good trip under Flavien Prat in the Grade II Del Mar Mile and was a winner by two and a quarter lengths in the grass mile. He ran the distance in 1:33.82. His win price was $10.20. Total purse was $302,500 and win share was $180,000.
The race was a part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” giving Du Jour a trip to the Grade I BC Turf Sprint.
Ceiling Crusher Trounces Competition in GIII Torrey Pines
Favored Ceiling Crusher, owned by the partnership of Cady, Kasparoff, Leatherman and Wonderland Stable, made every pole a winner as rider Edwin Maldonado “walked the dog” in the dirt mile. Final time was 1:37.41. His win price was $6.80. Total purse was $151,500and win share was $90,000.
EDWIN MALDONADO (Ceiling Crusher, winner) – “When she was a baby, I used to work her for trainer Luis Mendez before she got sold. So, it crushed me when she got sold. But I was happy to see her doing so good. Today, you go, or you take back and try and save ground. So, it was a no brainer but to go with her today. Day and night, now she does everything so easy, effortless.”
DOUG O’NEILL (Ceiling Crusher, winner) – “I think I had her in a route mentality and last time (in the Fleet Treat) I kept her one turn, and it was a difficult challenge. So, I think getting her back to two turns, she drew perfectly and Edwin (Maldonado) did a great job. We did the old find the lead and improve your position. That confident, arrogant thing you do and often times you get pie all over your face, but this particular time it worked perfectly.”
FRACTIONS: :22.14, 46.29, 1:11.78, 1:24.58 with a final time of 1:37.41
This was the second stakes win of the meet for both rider Maldonado and trainer O’Neill. This was rider Maldonado’s first victory in the Torrey Pines and his 12 victory overall at Del Mar. This was trainer O’Neill’s second score in the Torrey Pines (Munny Spunt 2017). He now has 46 stakes wins at Del Mar.
Motorious Motors Home in GIII Green Flash
Favored Motorious (GB) took the overland but got home in plenty of time under Geovanni Franco to capture the Green Flash Handicap by a length and three quarters. He is owned by Anthony Fanticola and paid $7.20 to his backers as the favorite in the 12-horse field. The total purse for the feature was $153,500 and the winner’s share was $90,000. He ran the five furlongs on turf in :56.07.
We’ll likely be seeing Motorious in November at Santa Anita as he race was a part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” giving the D’Amato trainee a trip to the Grade I BC Turf Sprint.
GEOVANNI FRANCO (Motorious, winner) – “I got lucky enough to where Phil would let me work him a few times in the morning, so I got pretty familiar with the horse. Being given the opportunity for me was a blessing and of him being open for the race. To get to ride him, it gave me a lot of confidence. And you know what, I didn’t know how much he can run in the afternoon, but he can sure run. Phil told me he needed a clear break out of the gate, and he broke like a champion. From then on it was just a matter of time whenever I was going to ask him to go and he sure did.”
PHIL D’AMATO (Motorious, winner) – “I’m proud of all my horses. They all fired but this horse today was a cut above. We’ll gladly take the ticket to the Breeders’ Cup. I thought maybe he (Franco) was waiting a little too long, but I think he knew what he had under him and when he asked him, he exploded. We got a lot of pace to run at and Geovanni just found his stride and once he pressed the button, he was gone.”
FRACTIONS: :21.74 and :44.70 with a final time of 56.07
The stakes win was second of the meet for rider Franco and the fourth for trainer D’Amato. This was the second victory in the Green Flash (Lieutenant Dan, 2021) for rider Franco. He now has seven stakes wins at Del Mar. This was the first victory in the Green Flash for trainer D’Amato. He now has 48 stakes victories at Del Mar.
Gold Phoenix Rises and Shines in GII Del Mar Handicap
Presented by Japan Racing Association
Favored Gold Phoenix (IRE) proved a length and a quarter best Saturday in the Del Mar Handicap, covering the 11 furlongs on turf in 2:15.34. The 5-year-old gelding was handled by leading rider Juan Hernandez and races out of the barn of Phil D’Amato, who was winning the race for a record seventh time. Gold Phoenix paid $7.00 and is owned by Little Red Feather Stables, Sterling Stables and Marsha Naify. The winner earned $180,000 from the gross purse of $303,000.
The race was a part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” giving Gold Phoenix a trip to the Grade I BC Turf.
JUAN HERNANDEZ (Gold Phoenix, winner) – “Plan A was to save ground. My horse relaxed really well today and was so patient. This time I go outside because I had a lot of horses in front of me. So I say I want to swing out and see if I can find something. If not, I can go back inside. But I was able to find some space to come through, and after that he flew for home. He is getting better every race. Last time he was a little closer and he was able to keep up that space and able to win that race. I just have to wait, and he loved the distance.”
Breeders’ Cup?
“You know it’s always a hope to run in those kinds of races and I have been able to race some horses that have finished second. Hopefully this year I can get a good winner. I have a couple good horses.”
PHIL D’AMATO (Gold Phoenix, winner) – “He was loaded and looked like he had the perfect split. I just love how confident Juan (Hernandez) rode him. Did a great job. Juan and I have had good luck over the years. I haven’t used him much at the meet, but I used him at the right time.”
FRACTIONS: :48.74, 1:13.80, 1:39.28, 2:03.87 with a final time of 2:15.34
The stakes win was the fifth of the meet for rider Hernandez and the fifth of the session for trainer D’Amato. This was the first victory in the Del Mar Handicap for rider Hernandez, but his 38th stakes win at Del Mar overall. This was the seventh victory in the Del Mar Handicap for trainer D’Amato and his 49 stakes tally at Del Mar.
