Fibonacci’s Ride storms by late to take the Solana Beach, Benoit Photo
Del Mar Press
Zephyr Racing’s Fibonaccis Ride closed ground nicely through the stretch and came away a length and a quarter winner of Saturday’s Solana Beach Stakes at Del Mar.
Veteran Hall of Fame rider Victor Espinoza was aboard the 4-year-old daughter of Clubhouse Ride as she covered the mile on turf in 1:34.74 and returned $36.80 to her backers in the seaside crowd.
Finishing second was Robert Englekirk’s Quick Kate, who had two and a quarter lengths on Harris Farm’s Wink and a Grin. Race favorite at 3/5 Grand Slam Smile, owned by Mr.-Mrs. Larry D. Williams, was in in the race early, but backed up late and finished fourth.
The Cal-bred stakes for fillies and mares carried a purse of $150,000 and rewarded the winner with a prize of $85,500. The score was Fibonaccis Ride’s fourth in her 13th start, but first in a stakes race. She was bred by James Shenouda of Burbank, CA, the owner of Zephyr Racing.
The tally by Espinoza was his first in a Del Mar stakes since 2023. It was also his 110th at the shore oval, second most among all riders behind Chris McCarron’s 134.
Further along in the afternoon program, favored Vronti with Unberto Rispoli in the irons captured the $100,000 CTT and TOC Overnight Stakes by one length.
The 4-year-old filly, who is trained by eastern ace H. Graham Motion and races in the silks of Andrew Stone, covered the demanding mile and three-eighths on turf in 2:15.39 and returned $5 to her backers for the victory. She picked up a first prize of $60,000.
Racing will return to Del Mar on Sunday with first post at the usual 2 p.m.
VICTOR ESPINOZA (Fibonaccis Ride, winner) – “She’s a little tough to get along with; she’s got a mind of her own. But I think I’ve got her figured out now and we get along just fine.”
ANTONIO GARCIA (Fibonaccis Ride, winner) – “Victor’s (Espinoza) gotten along with her pretty good. He’s got her to where she can relax and make one run. I was a little worried about her being on the inside because usually she comes with a nice run on the outside. Victor stayed calm and he timed it good. Once he saw that gap and got her through it, she was able to keep going.”
FRACTIONS: :22.97 :46.86 1:11.00 1:23.04 1:34.74
The stakes win was the first of the meet for rider Espinoza, but his second (Lazy Slusan, 2000) in the Solana Beach. The stakes win was the second of the meet for trainer Garcia, but his first in the Solana Beach.
This was stakes win No. 110 for rider Espinoza, second most among all riders at Del Mar.
This was stakes win No. 3 for trainer Garcia.
The winning owner is Zephyr Racing, which is the nom du course for James Shenouda of Burbank, CA.
