News: Del Mar Opening Weekend

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The Weekend Wrap-Up

July 16-17

Midnight Storm Defeats Stubborn Rival in Eddie Read.

When Midnight Storm is allowed to settle in his easy rhythmic stride, he is a very tough rival to run down. Employing that tactic is what got him the win in the Gr. 2 Seabiscuit Handicap, Gr. 1 Shoemaker Mile, and just this Saturday, the Gr. 2 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar.

The son of Pioneerof the Nile was able to make the early lead into the first turn as his main pace rival, Bolo, pressed him from the outside. The two contested an opening quarter in :23.82 and half mile in :48.03. Leaving the backstretch, jockey Rafael Bejarano sat chilly on his mount while Mike Smith, on Bolo, asked his mount to keep pace with the leader after six furlongs in 1:12.18. Midnight Storm shook free of Bolo, but faced a challenge on the stretch from Si Sage. Refusing to yield to his foe, Midnight Storm fought gamely to win by a half length in a final time of 1:47.88. Ashleyluvsugar settled in second and Flamboyant finished a neck behind in third.

The Phil D’Amato trainee earned $150,000 for the victory, moving his career earnings close to the $1M mark. The win marks his fourth from five starts over the Jimmy Durante turf course, his lone loss coming over “good” turf in last year’s edition of the Eddie Read. D’Amato gave jockey Rafael Bejarano all the credit for his gate to wire victory. “Raf (jockey Rafael Bejarano) saved just enough. Bolo was all over him, he wasn’t getting any easy breathers.”

With the Breeders’ Cup Mile on November 5 at Santa Anita being the ultimate goal, D’Amato says it’s up to Midnight Storm to pick his next start. “His confidence is just sky high right now. When he gets good he gets really good and he’s just coming into his own. If he comes out of this race like he came out of his last one, maybe the Gr. 2 Del Mar Mile ($200,000, August 21), but we’ll see what he tells us.”

 

She’s Not Here Repeats in Yellow Ribbon H.

Del Mar is known as a specialist race course, where horses enjoy the seaside oval’s fast main track and firm turf course. One of those horses is She’s Not Here, who recorded her second consecutive upset victory in the Gr. 2 Yellow Ribbon on Saturday, July 16 at Del Mar in front of an on track crowd of 15,526.

Enjoying a perfect trip and ride under jockey Drayden Van Dyke, the five-year-old daughter of Street Cry sat in third behind early leaders Her Emmynency and Keri Belle as the two contested a very tepid pace of 48.74 for the half mile. While She’s Not Here bided, Prize Exhibit and jockey Santiago Gonzalez made a premature three wide move down the backstretch to engage the leaders into the far turn resulting in a three-horse duel with She’s Not Here tucked in fourth on the far turn. Once the field reached the top of the stretch, She’s Not Here put in her bid to grab the lead from the tired leaders and safely held off the late rally of 18-1 longshot Fresh Feline, who finished second. 2-1 favorite Nancy from Nairobi was third.

The slow early pace not only compromised the late charge of Nancy from Nairobi but a slow start forced jockey Mike Smith to change plans. “She stumbled coming out of there; almost went to her nose. It cost her everything. If I come out of there the right way, I would have been laying third. Instead, I’ve got to come all the way from the back. It would have been totally different.”

She’s Not Here was ignored by the wagering public scoring the 9-1 upset because she had finished off the board in three starts this year. However, closer inspection revealed she had faced top caliber competition in the form of Group One Queen Anne winner Tepin and Gr. 1 Gamely winner Illuminant when she ran against the two in the Gr. 1 Jenny Wiley in April at Keeneland.

This victory was significant for jockey Drayden Van Dyke as this was his first Graded Stakes victory here at Del Mar. “This place (Del Mar) is one of my favorite racetracks, so to win a graded race here is special.”

Trainer Vicki Oliver credits the hands of Drayden Van Dyke for this mare’s victory. “I watched the race from here and I thought Drayden (Van Dyke) had her in good position down the back stretch, and when he asked her, she really responded. She runs well on that turf course. I don’t know exactly why, maybe she just likes it because it’s a little more firm than most. We’ll bring her back to Kentucky, there’s not another race for her out there. But we’re sending some other horses out to run at the meeting.”

 

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