Del Mar
Friday, Oct. 24
Weather: Cloudy
Temp.: 54°
Track: Fast
DEL MAR, Calif. – With the majority of this year’s Breeders’ Cup contenders sticking close to home for their final works, there has been very little to report at Del Mar since the racetrack opened for business Monday. The action did pick up to some degree Friday with four potential Breeders’ Cup starters turning in their final major preps over a fast track on an overcast and somewhat dank morning.
Trainer Michael McCarthy sent out three of the four Breeders’ Cup workers on Friday’s tab, starting with Juvenile Turf-bound Stark Contrast, who worked under the cover of darkness shortly before 6 a.m. Stark Contrast left the five-furlong pole at little better than a two minute clip (14.43 seconds) before breezing a very easy half-mile in 25.58, 50.11.
He was nudged just a tad approaching the wire before easing up five panels into the clubhouse turn in 1:03.86. The breeze appeared to be maintenance in design for the turf specialist working on the dirt.
McCarthy waited until after the renovation break to send out the team of Meaning (Juvenile Fillies) and La Ville Lumiere (Juvenile Fillies/Juvenile Fillies Turf), who were set down for a serious five-furlong drill. The pair completed the distance in 59.33 with a 35.93 three-eighths split. Both were fully extended and then some to the wire with Meaning holding a narrow edge nearest the rail before edging clear by three lengths after galloping out three-quarters in a very respectable 1:12.13.
Dry Powder (Distaff/Dirt Mile), among the first horses on the grounds earlier in the week, looked very good turning in a strong open gallop on Wednesday and was sharp again this morning, breezing an easy four furlongs in 24.39, 48.73 over a fresh track almost immediately after the break. She punctuated the move with an excellent gallop-out, easing up after six furlongs in 1:14.13 while well within herself throughout with jockey Emily Ellingwood aboard.
“We did all the major preparations at home. I just wanted to get her out here early and used to this track because it’s a little unique and a lot different than the ones back east with its tight turns and short stretch,” said trainer Chad Summers. “We were looking for an easy work with a strong gallop-out, which is what we got. Emily did a great job, hit every pole on the mark.”
Despite the fact there were four recorded works for the Breeders’ Cup, the highlight of the morning was the appearance of potential Classic favorite Sovereignty, who got serious for the first time since arriving locally on Wednesday when galloping an eye-catching 1 3/8 miles shortly after dawn. He came through the wire with his ears up and was getting stronger the farther he went, accelerating down the backstretch and looking like he wanted to go around again when finally pulled up nearing the three-furlong pole.
ON SALE NOW: DRF Breeders' Cup Packages! Get everything you need to win and save big.
His archrival and fellow 3-year-old Journalism has also made a stellar impression the past several mornings, galloping 1 3/4 miles each of the last four days with tons of energy in reserve.
The only other Classic contender on the grounds is Forever Young, who finished third in the race here a year ago. He led a large Japanese contingent to the track for the first time since their recent arrival. The group included stablemate American Stage (Sprint).
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.