DEL MAR, Calif.— Ten 3-year-olds will test their mettle at a mile on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course at Del Mar Thursday in the Let It Ride Stakes, an overnight affair that carries a $100,000 purse.
Likely favorite in the grass spin is the Irish colt Coulthard, who races in the silks of Jay or Julie Manoogian and out of the barn of trainer Phil D’Amato. The son of the Kodiac stallion Coulsty has been a steady sort throughout his brief career of eight races with two wins, two seconds and two thirds on his ledger. The two victories were both stateside this year at Santa Anita and the bay will be trying something new in the Let It Ride by running around two turns for the first time. Top rider Joel Rosario will be along for the journey, and that’s a good thing.
Here’s the full field for the turfer from the rail out with riders and morning line odds:
1. Lincoln Hawk (John Velazquez, 8-1)
2. Crew Dragon (Luis Saez, 7/2)
3. Nerves of Steel (Geovanni Franco, 20-1)
4. Sonic Breeze ((Umberto Rispoli, 15-1)
5. Coastal Kid (Wayne Barnett, 20-1)
6. Team Merchants (Mario Gutierrez, 6-1)
7. Coulthard (Joel Rosario, )
8. Big Fish (Juan Hernandez, 10-1)
9. Man Friday (Kent Desormeaux, 7/2)
10. Petruchio (Mike Smith, 8-1)
Big Fish’s trainer, David Hofmans, indicated to a Del Mar official that his horse would be withdrawn from the race in order to go in a better opportunity at Golden Gate Fields.
Crew Dragon, who is trained by John Sadler, was beaten only a head in the one-mile Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar July 16. The son of Preakness winner Exaggerator has finished in the top three in nine of his 10 starts.
Man Friday comes into the feature off a tally on October 10 at Santa Anita in an optional claimer. He’s a ridgling by Triple Crown hero American Pharoah who was claimed by his current connections for $50,000 on August 20 at Del Mar.
The Let It Ride will be the seventh of eight races on the Thursday program. First post is 12:30 p.m.
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Del Mar Press Release
Photo: Coulthard winning an AOC at Santa Anita on March 13, 2021. (Benoit Photos)
