Followers who attended each the 2023 and 2024 Pacific Traditional Day playing cards should have been feeling déjà vu Aug. 31 as they noticed not one, however two repeat winners out of the barn of coach Phil D’Amato at Del Mar.
Just some races after Gold Phoenix three-peated within the Del Mar Handicap (G2T), it was Motorious who would go back-to-back within the $152,500 Inexperienced Flash Handicap (G3T).
Ridden by Antonio Fresu, the 6-year-old gelding entered the stretch ninth of 10, however was arrange for a powerful rally by fractions of :21.77 and :44.38. Motorious completed with a flourish to outfinish Johnny Podres , who was closing from final, by three-quarters of a size whereas finishing 5 furlongs in :56.14.
Motorious paid $6.60 to win. No Nay Hudson completed third.
The win offered a sigh of aid for D’Amato and proprietor Anthony Fanticola as their Muhaarar gelding had been off the board in each begins this 12 months. D’Amato credited the Del Mar grass he now holds a 3-for-3 file over.
“He did not get issues his personal method beginning off this 12 months,” D’Amato stated. “He got here again to a turf course he actually likes, obtained a pleasant setup, and confirmed what he can do.”
D’Amato stated he believes his horse will get a greater grip over the Del Mar turf, which is nice information for him and dangerous information for his competitors because the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash (G1T) will probably be contested at Del Mar Nov. 2. Together with his victory, Motorious holds an computerized berth to the championship occasion by means of the Breeders’ Cup Problem Collection.
Video: Inexperienced Flash H. (G3T)
Baffert Earns Eighth Torrey Pines Victory, Completes Exacta
5 races earlier within the card, coach Bob Baffert once more flashed his dominance in graded filth races for 3-year-olds as his trainees accomplished the exacta within the $150,500 Torrey Pines Stakes (G3).
Hope Street wins the Torrey Pines Stakes
Hope Street could be the spectacular victor, ending 5 lengths forward of stablemate Nothing Like You , with Grand Slam Smile one other six lengths again in third.
The dominant victory was arrange by a blistering tempo set by Soho , who surrendered early getting into the far flip after fractions of :21.70 and :45.31.
Positioned as the primary to inherit the lead, jockey Juan Hernandez obtained the bounce on his competitors and kicked away down the lane.
“She is a extremely sensible and sharp filly … Right this moment I used to be simply the pilot,” stated Hernandez. “She is de facto fast, however she settled down very well as we speak behind the tempo.”
The bay filly stopped the clock for one mile in 1:36.15 whereas paying $3.00 to win.
An ideal 3-for-3 this summer time following a protracted layoff since ending eleventh in final 12 months’s Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1), Hope Street seems a rising star for Baffert and Cicero Farms, who personal and bred the daughter of High quality Street .
“I knew there was loads of pace within the race,” Baffert stated. “You do not know till they do it, however on the three-eighths pole I assumed she’ll get it.”
