Del Mar Stakes Recaps

By Jarrod Horak

The 2023 Bing Crosby Season is off and running. In this post, I will cover Del Mar stakes recaps for Nov. 10-12 and preview the upcoming second week of the fall meet. 

Del Mar Stakes Recaps (Nov. 10-12)

Let It Ride – Nov. 10 – One mile turf

There was not much drama in this restricted flat mile turf stakes affair. Dandy Man Shines (IRE) was the strong favorite after a relatively fast maiden score in a one mile turf race at Del Mar on Sept. 9. Woodbine shipper Camilo looked like the only real competition on paper, but he seemed to stumble a bit out of the gate and did not get into the right forward spot under Flavien Prat. He stalked inside and was one-paced. Sharp Aza Tack stretched out in distance and took up the running from the inside post. Dandy Man Shines was patient handled under Umberto Rispoli, and he started to advance around the far turn while racing wide. He burst to the front in the lane and was much the best by 2 1/4 lengths. Ah Jeez gained the place over his stablemate Sharp Aza Tack. Calm Sea and Camilo were in the three-way photo for the show but both came up a tad short. Smart Mo stalked and faded to last. Jeff Mullins saddled the winner and he paid $3.60, and he completed his one mile turf journey in 1:34.55.  

Kathryn Crosby – Nov. 11 – One mile turf 

Dolce Zel (FR) and Ganadora both broke through the gate. They were rounded up and cleared to run, and Ganadora ended up setting the pace through a quarter in 23.65 and a half in 48.31. Lucky for You stalked outside and Linda’s Gift stalked from the rail and was rank under Tiago Pereira. Dolce Zel was in a good spot in 4th under Flavien Prat, and she moved up to 3rd after six panels in 1:12.82. Phil D’Amato’s filly rallied outside and opened up by two lengths, and that was the winning move. The closers were making up ground in deep stretch but it was too late. Dolce Zel won by 3/4ths of a length and paid $7.00. Her odds were lower before she broke through the gate, and she drifted up to 5-2. Yerwanthere (IRE) rallied from the back of the pack from post 9 and grabbed the place by a neck over late runner Nadette (FR). Linda’s Gift was another half-length back in 4th and my 4-1 top choice Turnerloose sat in midpack, moved up wide, and failed to quicken in the lane. Ganadora, Lucky for You, Free and Humble, and Very Scary also ran. The final time was 1:35.95.  

Betty Grable – Nov. 12 – 7 furlongs dirt

Power Surge scratched and she figured to impact the pace. That development left Chancery Way as the main speed from the inside post, and she went 22.91, 45.39, and 1:09.88. She remained clear throughout and scored by 3 3/4 lengths as much the best under Antonio Fresu. My top choice Rose Dawson was bet down to favoritism, and she broke outward from the outside post and raced wide throughout in a solid runner-up effort. Carmen Miranda missed the place by a neck and was clear of the rest. Glorious Spring, Chismosa, Bella D, and Smoothlikebuttah also ran. The final time was 1:22.43.  

Del Mar Week 2 Preview (Nov. 17-19)

There are no stakes races on Friday, Nov. 17, but the optional-claiming dirt sprint feature is a high quality affair. Graded stakes veteran C Z Rocket is in the field, along with Dwyer (G3) hero Fort Bragg. Classic Car Wash placed in a pair of Kentucky Derby 2023 points races earlier this year, and Sir Atticus drops out of a pair of graded sprints and might be the target from the inside post. 

Two stakes races are on the docket for Saturday, Nov. 18. First up is the Desi Arnaz Stakes and Wesley Ward’s impressive debut winner Royal Slipper is probably the one to catch. The daughter of Uncle Mo gave them the slip at Keeneland on Oct. 6. Later in the day, nine state bred sprinters knock heads in the $100,000 Cary Grant Stakes and The Chosen Vron is the big name. He had his 8-race win streak come to a halt when finishing a wide 5th in the BC Sprint. He is back in two weeks and could easily get back on the winning track. 

The feature race on Sunday, Nov. 19 is the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes. Nine horses have been nominated to the seven panel dirt race: Ace of Clubs, Mission Beach, Raging Torrent, Rothschild, Stronghold, Tejan Pass, Ultra Power, Wine Me Up, and Wynstock. Bob Baffert conditions four of the noms including American Pharoah (G1) runner-up Wine Me Up.