DEL MAR, Calif.— The father/son team of Jed and Tim Cohen– who race under the names of Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal, respectively – threw a big punch Sunday with their 2-year-old colt Packs a Wahlop, who sat a pretty trip in second under Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith, then powered away from his field through the lane to take honors in the Grade III, $104,500 Del Mar Juvenile Turf Sunday at the seaside track.
“Jeff (trainer Mullins) and his crew did a great job getting this colt ready for this race. They were actually only going to run the other one (Valiancer) and this horse was doing so good Jeff said we got to run them both. He’s (Pack a Wahlop) training unbelievable and I came out and worked him every time, so I feel like I was a part of it. I didn’t think they were going to beat this colt, not today anyway. Nice comfortable pace and he had plenty left,” said Smith.
The gray son of Creative Cause was four and a quarter lengths best at the end of the one-mile test on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course, covering the distance in 1:35.96 with fractions of :23.00, :47.24, 1:12.32 and 1:24.31. The winning trainer was Jeff Mullins.
“That was kind of the plan along. He showed speed going five-eighths; we figured he would be laying close somewhere in a comfortable position. Mike’s worked him every time and he’s had all the confidence in this horse, we all have. I was surprised he went off at 8-1,” Mullins remarked.
Finishing second was Gans, Jacobs or Katz, et al’s Valiancer, who came from far back to finish ahead of the other Red Baron’s and Rancho Temescal’s colt Dandy Man Shines.
Phil Lebherz’s Don’tthinkjustdoit actually was second across the wire but was disqualified back to 7th for interference in the stretch.
Packs a Wahlop returned $18.00, $10.00 and $5.80 across the board. Valiancer paid $40.80 and $22.80, while Dandy Man Shines paid $4.00 to show.
The winner earned $60,000 for his good work and now has earnings of $110,000 for his second win in his third start.
Jockey Smith’s 76th stakes win at Del Mar, it was his second of the meet and first in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf.
The stakes win was the first of the meet for trainer Mullins scored his first stakes of the meet and second in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf winning in 2012 with Dry Summer. The conditioner now has 22 Del Mar stakes on his resume.
The winning owners Jed and Tim Cohen are local supporters of Southern California racing as Jed resides in Los Angeles and Tim in Del Mar.
DMTC Press Release/Edited
Photos by Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire
