DEL MAR, Calif. – An English grass mare on her way up the ladder and a Cal-bred gelding on his way out of town are prominent Thursday at Del Mar, but both contenders are up against it.
The grass mare Hopeful faces a tough task in race 7, a second-level allowance. It is never easy to win back-to-back while moving up in class on turf. Then again, not many European imports deliver a U.S. debut as impressive as Hopeful.
“I think she’s a very nice filly,” trainer Mark Glatt said. “She ran exceptionally well, and it’s been my experience that when they run really well first time in the U.S., they can develop into something pretty darn good.”
Hopeful is not there yet, but she might be after Friday. The 5-year-old is among 14 entered in the 1 1/16-mile turf race, but only 10 can start. Hopeful’s main rivals include Vibez and Paradise Lake.
Race 1 entrant Boss Sully is the Cal-bred gelding whose summer itinerary includes the Grade 2 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint on Aug. 30. Boss Sully, a Grade 2 runner-up last out at Churchill Downs, runs five furlongs Thursday in a turf allowance that trainer Brian Koriner said is a prep for Kentucky. But the prep is not easy.
“You open up the [Daily Racing] Form all excited one of your best horses is running, but this race came up tough,” Koriner said.
He’s right. None of the five entered are tosses: Boss Sully, stakes-placed Sorrento Sky, 97 Beyer allowance winner Virat, stakes winner Sumter, and Daniel’s Magic.
The deepest race Thursday is the filly-mare allowance in which Hopeful is one of many contenders. Hopeful won 2 of 7 in England before California-based Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners purchased her at a European auction for a reported $133,656.
Glatt expected Hopeful to run well in her U.S. debut June 15 at Santa Anita, though she drew post 10 in the turf mile.
“I thought she was fairly compromised, and she overcame it to win,” Glatt said. “I thought it was better than it looked.”
Antonio Fresu tucked Hopeful in before she lost ground. The mare raced within striking range of a fast pace, struck the front in deep stretch, and won by a measured neck.
“If she does well [Thursday], we’re going to be looking for a stake for her,” Glatt said.
If the up-and-comer Hopeful misses, it’s anyone’s race. Vibez finished second last out in a stakes at Lone Star Park, and race winner Neom Beach won her third straight stakes next out. Vibez, 2 for 3 on Del Mar turf, is trained by Peter Eurton, who also trains last-out allowance winner Paradise Lake.
Rugelach is 4 for 4 at Del Mar but unraced since September. Baltic Fire has won 2 of 4 at Del Mar and is making her first start in nearly three months. Other entrants in the body of the race include Paradise Secret, Runamileinmyshoes, Johanny, Circle of Trust, and Candy Bar.
Hopeful is the highest-profile Glatt runner Thursday, but the trainer’s most likely winner might be a filly facing boys. Race 3 entrant Super Ellie, winner of a Cal-bred allowance last out, gets a five-pound break from male rivals in a starter allowance at a mile on turf. Glatt hoped to run Super Ellie in a starter allowance against fillies and mares, but the race did not fill.
“There really wasn’t another spot I loved,” Glatt said. “She’s taken to the grass. It took me a little [while] to kind of figure her out.”
Super Ellie, claimed by Glatt for $20,000 in March, has won 1 of 3 since. The mare is a potential single in the first leg of the $1 pick six.
The smallest field Thursday is race 1, five furlongs on turf. Boss Sully’s main rival is Sorrento Sky, making his first start in nearly five months.
Sorrento Sky is trained by Phil D’Amato, who said the horse is using Thursday to prep for the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap on Aug. 30. D’Amato plans to also start Motorious, who finished second last year in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, in the Green Flash.
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