DEL MAR, Calif. – It’s back to normal this week at Del Mar, but there is nothing normal about a massive gray colt who figures to win the featured seventh race on Friday.
The Breeders’ Cup runners with big reputations have left town, but a horse with a big physique arrives for a California-bred allowance turf sprint on Friday. Titanic Thompson is a gargantuan 3-year-old colt who could be faster than his rivals. He already is bigger.
“He’s over 1,200 pounds,” trainer Steve Miyadi said. “Grazen [progeny], they can run large. That’s why a lot of them don’t break the first time, no matter how much practice.”
Titanic Thompson has had enough practice. He makes his ninth start Friday, seeking his second win. The turf sprint attracted eight runners and two also-eligibles, including front-runner Andtheomofthebrave, pace presser Belly Up, late runner Gold Council, and turf-to-dirt pace presser Jaguar Jon.
Nick Alexander bred and owns Titanic Thompson, a colt named after the late gambler/hustler. Alexander often names horses after historical figures. In the case of Titanic Thompson, the name fits. The colt is huge, and he can run.
Since winning his third start against maidens on turf at Santa Anita, Titanic Thompson has lost five straight Cal-bred allowances. At least he is getting closer. He made an early move last time, opened up in the lane, and got worn down to finish third by a neck under jockey Armando Ayuso.
After the race, Ayuso acknowledged to Miyadi that he should have waited.
“It takes a confident, secure jockey to admit that maybe he moved too soon,” Miyadi said. “Usually, you don’t get that.”
Ayuso, 31, has established himself among the top half-dozen riders in Southern California. He probably will not make the same mistake twice. Miyadi outlined the ideal scenario that would lead to a victory by Titanic Thompson.
“In a perfect world, he breaks and sits close, and Ayuso can just wait a little bit,” Miyadi said. He added that Titanic Thompson “has a quarter of a mile move. It just depends on when you’re going to use it.”
Shortening from six furlongs to five, Titanic Thompson figures to contest the pace over a course that was kind to speed opening week. The last four turf sprints were won by horses positioned first or second – one with turf rails down, three with the rails at 30 feet. The rails are at 30 feet on Friday.
Andtheomofthebrave runs best at Del Mar and benefits from the shorter distance. Gold Council flew late to finish second in his comeback last out. He finished in front of five others who are in the body of the Friday allowance, including Titanic Thompson.
Two early turf sprints Friday will gauge the speed-friendly course profile. In race 1, Tiger of the Sea adds blinkers and should wire a field of Cal-bred maiden fillies and mares. Race 3 is a scramble for 2-year-old maiden fillies bred in California.
First post Friday is 12:30 p.m.
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