Del Mar’s Matriarch: Brown, D’Amato, or ???

Invaders adore the Matriarch Stakes (G1T). Del Mar has hosted the event nine times since Hollywood Park closed in 2013, and only once has a Southern California horse won the one mile turf race, primarily because of the dominance of trainer Chad Brown. The question is, will a Brown runner win again or will a local trainer prevail?

Certainly, Phil D’Amato would merit a chance at thwarting Brown’s relentless Matriarch assault. D’Amato dominates turf racing in Southern California, as he proved when his runners, headed by Easter , finished first, second, and third in the Nov. 25 Seabiscuit Handicap (G2T).

In numbers alone, Brown and D’Amato surround the field for the Dec. 3 Matriarch. Brown is bringing four from his powerful East Coast stable, and D’Amato has entered three locals. Ironically, one of the D’Amato runners could be considered an invader, as Elounda Queen  will be making her Southern California debut in the Matriarch and her first for D’Amato.

A 3-year-old daughter of Australia , Elounda Queen won the Aug. 15 Prix de Lieurey Fonds Europeen de l’Elevage (G3) at Deauville. In her only U.S. start, she finished unplaced in the Oct. 14 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1T) at Keeneland while trained by Jean-Claude Rouget. For the Matriarch, Elounda Queen drew the rail and will have the services of jockey Hector Berrios.

D’Amato may have a better chance with Elm Drive  or Hamwood Flier , both of whom have been with him for a while. Early this year, Elm Drive won back-to-back stakes at Santa Anita—the April 8 Monrovia Stakes (G3), which was taken off the turf, and the May 20 Mizdirection Stakes down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course. Last year, Hamwood Flier won the Swingtime Stakes at Santa Anita and finished fourth in the Matriarch. Most recently she finished third in the Nov. 5 Goldikova Stakes (G2T). Antonio Fresu rides Hamwood Flier from post 2, and Ramon Vazquez pilots Elm Drive from post 9.

Brown is using a mix of California and New York jockeys for his quartet: Joel Rosario on Surge Capacity  from post 3, Flavien Prat on Whitebeam  from post 5, Umberto Rispoli on Beaute Cachee  from post 6, and Irad Ortiz Jr. on Fluffy Socks  from post 10.

Of the four, Fluffy Socks is the veteran, a 5-year-old millionaire daughter of Slumber  . She has won four stakes, including the 2020 Jimmy Durante Stakes (G3T) at Del Mar, and this will be her fifth trip to California. Her previous visits garnered her thirds in the 2021 Del Mar Oaks (G1T) and American Oaks (G1T) and a fourth in the 2022 Rodeo Drive Stakes (G2T).

Whitebeam has started four times in this country, nabbing victories in the 2023 Diana Stakes (G1T) and Gallorette Stakes (G3T). Beaute Cachee also has four U.S. starts, with two wins, including the Violet Stakes, and two seconds. Surge Capacity has three wins, including graded scores at Saratoga and Keeneland, and a second in just four lifetime starts.

That arsenal plus Brown’s Matriarch record make him formidable indeed. He has won five of the last six runnings, only missing in 2019.

Of the five runners not trained by Brown or D’Amato, Closing Remarks  and Queen Goddess  could pose the biggest threats.

Don’t overlook Ruby Nell , a 3-year-old daughter of Bolt d’Oro   trained by Richard Mandella and to be ridden by Edwin Maldonado from post 7. Fourth in the Aug. 19 Del Mar Oaks (G1T) in her stakes debut, she has since captured the Unzip Me Stakes and Autumn Miss Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita.

Bill Mott, who saddled three Breeders’ Cup winners at Santa Anita last month, is sending 5-year-old graded winner Wakanaka . Though she hasn’t won in more than a year, in 2023 Wakanaka has two seconds and a third in graded company.