The final race on most race cards is usually one of the deepest, a competitive race that gives bettors the chance to collect exotic rewards on their way out the door. Often such races feature claimants or maidens, but occasionally, a grass-fed senior race comes into the mix as well.
One such occasion occurred on September 3 on Pacific Classic Day at Del Mar when a field of 11 races during the night in the Del Mar Handicap presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2T). In addition to the race’s $300,000, also on the wire is an automatic berth, paying at the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) on November 5 at Keeneland. The race is part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series.
Typical of a race card final, the competition runs deep. There are no obvious highlights, with Heywoods Beach , Masterpiece , Masteroffoxhounds , Red King and Tizamagician are five of the candidates. They all entered the race with question marks to some extent.
Heywoods Beach and Tizamagician transition from land to grass; Master Piece won the Eddie Read Stakes (G2T) but only 2 to 10 since 2020; The Masteroffoxhounds had a disappointing attempt at fifth in Eddie Read; and the Red King are 8 years old and have not won in four starts this year.
Working in the interests of Master Piece is an obvious fondness for racing on the Del Mar turf. Besides winning the Eddie Read award, he also placed second in the Handicap Del Mar in 2021.
For four starts as of August 2021, the gray puzzle is equal to Master Artisan raced for coach Michael McCarthy in California.
Abel Cedillo has mounts for owners Fernando Diaz-Valdes, Baalbek Corp. and Don Alberto Stable. Master Piece carries 123 pounds, equal in weight to the Tizamagician in this regard.
Trainer Phil D’Amato starts four horses: the aforementioned Masteroffoxhounds and the Red King, plus Golden Phoenix and Gregdar .
Gordon Jacobsen’s Philip Belmonte and Red King gave D’Amato his sixth win in the Del Mar handicap two years ago. All of D’Amato’s wins in the three-legged race have come since 2014.
Four races ahead of the Del Mar Handicap, D’Amato holds another potential winning hand in the $300,000 Del Mar Mile (G2T), even without entering his star round. Recount .
His intern, Hong Kong Harry and Mount Cathkin —2-3 after Master Piece in Eddie Read 1/8 mile — cuts a long way to Del Mar Mile.
Tripoli and come back Astronaut opposition leader. They both star in the 2021 Pacific Classic Days with Tripoli upending the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) and the Astronaut taking the Del Mar handicap.
The Del Mar Mile is not a Breeders’ Cup WAYI qualifier.
Item: Del Mar Mile S. (G2T)
Del MarSaturday, September 3, 2022, Race 7
- Level IIT
- 1m
- Turf
- 300,000 dollars
- 3 years or more
- 4:00pm (local)
Item: Del Mar H. Presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2T)
Del MarSaturday, September 3, 2022, Race 11
- Level IIT
- 1 3 / 8min
- Turf
- 300,000 dollars
- 3 years or more
- 6:00pm (local)
