The name is aptly named. Conclude finished the final race of Pacific Classic Day with a victory, capturing the $302,500 Del Mar Mile Stakes (G2T) and helping trainer Phil D’Amato win three graded races on turf at Del Mar August 31. He had previously won the Del Mar Handicap (G2T) by Golden Phoenix and Green Flash Handicap (G3T) with Motorbike .
D’Amato not only won the Del Mar Mile but also ran 1-2 when Almendares won second place, just a head behind the winner.
Only D’Amato’s long-term entry, Midline Unable to challenge and last out of 10.
Conclude, who won the Del Mar Derby (G2T) last summer in his final start of 2023, has bounced back from two unsatisfactory finishes in his previous two starts this year—both for good reason. He finished 10th in the Shoemaker Mile Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita Park after a long rest in May and finished fourth in the Wickerr Stakes on July 21 at Del Mar after falling well behind and failing to gain his usual prominent lead.
He had no such early challenges at the Del Mar Mile. He controlled the pace with fractions of :23.45, :47.14 and 1:10.72 in the hard-packed turf race, opening up on the straights and having enough time to stretch without shifting the lead across the line. He finished in 1:34.05 and returned $12.20 to his $2 mutual backers for the win.
Almendares caught up with him at the last minute but was still a few steps behind. Astronomer And Your Day also rose to third and fourth place respectively.
Winning jockey Hector Berrios said his horse felt the pressure from oncoming rivals in the final half mile of the race, and Conclude responded.
“Last time he missed the break and went a little too far back, but that was our plan to stay there,” D’Amato said. “Hector made the right call and took care of him perfectly.”
Collected out of the 2012 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Believe you can Conclude was bred by the late Brereton Jones in Kentucky. After failing to sell at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Conclude initially raced for Jones, Sol Kumin-led Madaket Stables and Little Red Feather Racing. Since Jones’ death last September, Conclude has raced for Madaket Stables, Little Red Feather Racing and Jones’ estate.
Conclude is the second-placed winner this year for Collected, who topped the 2024 breeding season with a $10,000 prize at Airdrie Stud in Kentucky. Airdrie Stud, formerly headed by Brereton Jones, is led by his son, Bret.
Video: Del Mar Mile S. (G2T)
