Umberto Rispoli winning the Grade 2 San Clemente with Anisette. (Benoit Photo)
Del Mar Stable Notes By Jim Charvat
DEL MAR, Calif.—Week One of the Del Mar summer meet is in the books and the number that jumps out is the average field size of 10.19. There were 32 races run over the three days last week with 326 starters. Of that, 13 races were run on the turf where the average field size was 11.35. AFS on the dirt was 9.05.
The stakes races attracted an average of 12.20 horses per race, which is the standout number for Racing Secretary David Jerkens.
“I just think that’s encouraging to see stakes races with full fields,” Jerkens says. “That is not too common in this day and age. From a quality perspective, from a stakes perspective, definitely a great start.”
All of the numbers were on par with last year’s first week which is fine with Jerkens.
“Going into the meet I felt if we can match last year’s results I’ll be thrilled,” he says. “There’s a lot of factors. The three-day week and pent up demand not only for Del Mar but turf racing specifically.”
Umberto Rispoli had a riding triple on Saturday and clings to a slim lead in the jockey standings with five victories. Despite sitting out opening day on a one-day suspension, defending champion Juan Hernandez compiled four wins and is tied with Hector Berrios. Joe Bravo racked-up three victories last week and is followed by a half a dozen riders with two each.
The trainer standings are just as tight. Doug O’Neill leads the pack with five wins followed by defending co-champions Phil D’Amato and Bob Baffert with four each. Leonard Powell notched three victories and Bob Hess, Jr. had two.
Michael Bello or Bartlett and Reddam Racing lead all owners in wins with two.
COOLING OUT
Jockey Abel Cedillo is home now recuperating from a neck injury suffered in the fourth race at Del Mar Sunday afternoon. Cedillo was unseated from his mount Get the Gold shortly after the start of the race. His agent, Michael Ciani, says Cedillo will not require surgery and will be sidelined from 4-to-6 weeks…
Trainer Bob Hess, Jr. says Order and Law came out of his victory in the G3 Cougar II in good order…
Friday’s first post is pushed back two hours to four o’clock as Del Mar presents its first twilight card of the meet…
As if tracking and timing over 100 horses in the morning workouts isn’t hard enough, Mother Nature tossed in a shroud of fog over the racetrack on Monday and Tuesday.
WORK TAB
Notable works this week, all on the dirt:
Monday
Exaulted (4f, :48.40)
Fort Bragg (4f, :50.40)
Reincarnate (4f, :47.40)
Tripoli (4f, :47.40)
Faiza (5f, :59.60)
Justique (5f, 1:00.00)
Wednesday
Offlee Naughty (5f, 1:00.80)
Hudson Ridge (6f, 1:12.20)
Thursday
Neige Blanche (4f, :49.40)
Whatmakessammyrun (4F, :50.00) on Turf*
Quattroelle (5f, 1:04.80)
Work of the Day at Del Mar: Ultra Power and Elegant worked 5 Furlongs in 59.60 on July 27th, 2023.
Del Mar Workout videos can be viewed on XBTV.
