Winless in six prior starts ahead of Aug. 6, Maltese Falcon broke his maiden in a big way with a graded stakes victory in the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap (G3T) at Del Mar.
Trained by Leonard Powell for Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal, Maltese Falcon had been improving with each start, including a runner-up finish June 11 in the Cinema Stakes, but had yet to find the winner’s circle. In what was a dream trip up the rail, the 3-year-old son of Caravaggio hugged the fence all the way around under jockey J.J Hernandez. Closely tracking Agency and Justin’s Legacy in third behind early splits of :23.60 and ;48.82, the gelding never abandoned his rail position and bided his time before barreling through an opening a furlong from the wire.
Holding sway by one length over the late closing Panic Alarm (IRE), Maltese Falcon ($8.40) stopped the timer in 1:44.20 for the 1 1/16 miles. Agency held on for third.
Maltese Falcon, bred in Ireland by Sir Robert Ogden, was purchased by Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal for $125,663 at last year’s Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale after finishing second in his debut at Redcar.
Tim Cohen of Red Baron’s barn reported that the Sept. 3 Del Mar Derby (G2T) would be the next stop for Maltese Falcon, who believes will only flourish with “more distance.”
Video: La Jolla H. (G3T)
