Del Mar Recap for Friday (9-5-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running sprint winners on dirt (5.5f, 6.5f). On the turf course, a 15-1 stalker won at 5f, a 4-1 closer won at 5f, a 9-1 front winner graduated at one mile, and a stalking favorite earned her diploma in the flat mile finale (rail at 30 feet).
Kazushi Kimura booted home two turf winners. Peter Miller saddled three winners (2 turf winners).
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 9-5-25
I’m Smokin (CA-bred, 5.5f): Sammy Davis was the favorite and he went straight to the front from the inside post. He still had the lead turning for home but Thirsty Rebel and Max Ciao turned up the heat and it came down to those two. It was a head bob to the finish and Max Ciao ($16.60) got his nose down on the wire. Thirsty Rebel ran too good to lose as the second betting choice, and Saul Elliott edged 28-1 longshot Fionello for the show. Sammy Davis weakened to 5th and was followed by Another Bulleit, Pavlovian, and Desert Dawg. Armando Ayuso rode the winner for Steve Knapp. Fractions: 21.51, 44.61, 57.02, 1:03.59.
Aug. 5 Claims: Race 1 – H Q Wilson ($50k, Phil D’Amato).
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $189,828 and tickets with six winners paid $115,901.40. Tickets with five winners paid $376.30.
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Friday (9-5-25)
DMR 1 Opus Uno/In the Mix Exacta ($11.00), Trifecta ($35.80)
DMR 5 Usha/Artisma Exacta ($5.80)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
—————
Del Mar Recap for Saturday (9-6-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. No front running sprint winners on dirt. On the turf course, a closing favorite graduated in the flat mile opener, a closing favorite earned his diploma at one mile, a 9-2 closer broke her maiden at one mile, 61-1 closing longshot Dreaming of Alys upset the field in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf at one mile, 2-1 stalker Gimme a Nother (SAF) captured the John C. Mabee (G2) at 1 1/8 miles, and a stalking favorite won the flat mile finale.
Antonio Fresu guided home two winners on the main track. Mark Glatt (dirt) and Michael McCarthy (maiden turf route) both saddled two winners.
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 9-6-25
Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante (7f dirt): Explora was less than even money and she broke from the rail and was bumped by her stablemate Himika right out of the gate. She veered in after the bump and straightened out quickly, vied for the early lead, got to the front, and was a length or so clear but was never able to open up. Himika came after her around the turn and Bottle of Rouge stalked wide and was on the move turning for home. Explora fought hard but her stablemate Bottle of Rouge ($20.20) was moving like a winner under Mike Smith and she proved best by a length. Explora held the place by a half-length over closing 10-1 shot La Wally, and the latter was 7+ lengths clear of Himika. Bourbon and Ginger, Grandma Mary, and Fourlynnes also ran. Bob Baffert saddled the winner and runner-up. Fractions: 22.05, 44.62, 1:09.74, 1:23.05.
Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf (8T): South Bay was bet down to 5-2 and she set a pressured pace and weakened, and this race was all about the patient runners. Dreaming of Alys sat back in 7th, gained ground outside, and pulled off a massive 61-1 upset under Diego Herrera. Pentle Bay rallied from last of 11 to pick up the place at 75-1, and Hypergamy stalked from midpack, led, and was best of the rest in third. Yours Sincerely (IRE) closed mildly to finish 4th as the beaten favorite. La Ville Lumiere, Soaring Angel, Got the Ring, South Bay, Queen Bay, Dats Ms. Blame, and Cara Rose also ran. Improbable U and Pride of Queens scratched. Phil D’Amato saddled the winner. Fractions: 22.72, 47.33, 1:13.10, 1:25.51, 1:37.71.
Grade 2 John C. Mabee (9T): Hopeful (GB) was surprisingly keen early and she was in front under Kent D, and Kentucky Gal (IRE) made an early move and chased from second. Post time favorite Medoro and second betting choice and Gimme a Nother (SAF) tracked the longshot early leaders. This one came down to the two favorites and Gimme a Nother got the right trip and ride under Juan Hernandez. Medoro tipped outside and was on the move around the far turn under Umberto Rispoli, and Gimme a Nother ($6.80) saved ground, went around Hopeful right when Medoro made her move, and she outkicked the chalk and won by a length and a quarter. Medoro was second best and Mission of Joy landed the show at 20-1. Public Assembly was a clear fourth. Hang the Moon, Mahina, Baltic Fire, Hopeful, and Kentucky Gal also ran. Graham Motion saddled the winner. Fractions: 24.11, 48.01, 1:12.50, 1:36.89, 1:48.55.
Sept. 6 Claims: Race 2 – Man Child ($12.5k, Jesus Uranga).
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $271,089 and tickets with six winners paid $165,516.00. Tickets with five winners paid $844.40.
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Saturday (9-6-25)
DMR 1 THE MIZEN QUEEN ($5.40)
DMR 2 MAN CHILD ($3.20)
Double (races 1-2, $9.40)
DMR 4 REVERA ($4.20)
Double (races 4-5, $21.80)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $442.40)
DMR 8 LYELL’S SONG ($6.00), Exacta ($27.80)
DMR 9 GIMME A NOTHER (DMR Best Bet, $6.80), Superfecta ($275.00)
Double (races 8-9, $35.00)
DMR 11 WORD PLAY ($4.80)
LRL 8 FOXY JUNIOR ($7.00)
LAD 7 INSTANT REPLAY ($3.00), Trifecta ($51.60)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
—————
Del Mar Recap for Sunday (9-7-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running sprint winners on dirt (7f, 5.5f, 6.5f). On the turf course, a stalking favorite won at 11f, a closing favorite graduated at 5f, a 5-1 dueling front runner scored at 5f, pressing even money favorite Hey Nay Nay (IRE) captured the Del Mar Juvenile Turf (G3) at one mile, and a stalking favorite won the flat mile meet finale.
Hat trick for Flavien Prat (2 dirt sprint wins). Hector Berrios (turf) and Juan Hernandez both guided home two winners. Bob Baffert (dirt sprints), Richard Baltas, and John Sadler (turf) each saddled two winners.
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 9-7-25
Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity (7f dirt): Brant ($2.20) delivered as the favorite under Flavien Prat in this extended sprint. He bumped Brigante at the start, made the lead, and turned away his stablemate Desert Gate to win by a length. The latter stumbled at the start and steadied early, but he got a great inside trip behind the speed after that. He did steady briefly around the turn but that was minor and he had the length of the stretch to get past Brant but could not make a dent and was clearly second best. Maiden Civil Liberty nipped Litmus Test by a nose for the show. Balboa and Brigante also ran. Brant got a 91 BSF for his professional victory and he became Bob Baffert’s 19th winner of this race. Fractions: 21.88, 44.53, 1:09.11, 1:21.92.
Del Mar Juvenile Turf (8T): Hey Nay Nay ($4) was too good as the even money favorite. He pressed from second, got clear in the stretch, and won by a length and a half. Plutarch rallied from the back of the pack to land the place and Proletariat stalked the pace and held off overseas shipper Caro Buono (FR) by a neck for the show. Conducted, Oracle of Paradise, Later Than Planned (IRE), Jalisco, Love the Pressure, Won for Lou, Born to Rock, Stay for the Boom, and Dirty Rich also ran. Hector Berrios rode the winner for John Sadler. Fractions: 22.32, 46.61, 1:11.41, 1:23.69, 1:35.57.
Sept. 7 Claims: Race 1 – Blue Fashion ($10k, Sean Williams), Eltonsingsanother ($10k, Edwin Alvarez), Looks Lucky ($10k, Mark Glatt), Petite Ange ($10k, Phil Oviedo). Race 3 – Rastaman Vibe (50k, Steve Knapp). Race 10 – Don’t Ju Forget ($20k, George Papaprodromou).
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $384,815 and tickets with six winners paid $8,391.10. Tickets with five winners paid $77.80.
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Sunday (9-7-25)
DMR 2 Ocean Bear/Southern Melodee/Tommy Norris Trifecta ($34.40)
DMR 3 Rastaman Vibe/Reiquist/Night Out Trifecta ($159.40)
DMR 4 BRANT ($2.20), Superfecta ($25.80)
Double (races 3-4, $8.60)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $18.00)
Double (races 4-5, $12.40)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $39.40)
Early Pick 4 (races 2-5, $79.60)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $42.60)
DMR 8 Modus Bestia/Latitude/Cheever Trifecta (DMR Best Bet, $80.20)
LRL 8 POST TIME ($2.10)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
Please visit The Runaway Horse Shop to purchase my full cards.
