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Del Mar 2023 Week 6 Stakes Recaps (Aug 25-27)
By Jarrod Horak
Week 6 at Del Mar was the calm before the stakes storm. We saw decent performances in the graded ranks from Anarchist and Eda, and now the stakes schedule kicks into high gear for the final two weeks of the summer meet. There are ten stakes on the docket from Sept. 2-4, and the closing week festivities includes six stakes races.
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Solana Beach – August 25 – One mile turf
Chancery Way was a live longshot at 11-1 and she showed the way for quite some time through fractions of 22.92, 47.39, and 1:12.65. Eddie’s New Dream ($7.20) chased from second, went for the lead in the lane, and pulled clear to tally by 1 1/4 lengths. Rose Maddox made a late run and edged Chancery Way for the place by a head. Madiha stalked the pace at 58-1 odds and made a serious run at the trifecta, and she ended up an okay fourth in a better than expected result. Beaten favorite Ultimate Hy stalked wide and was one-paced in the lane in an even effort. He was a head behind Madiha, and Harper’s Gallop, Sunshine Babe, and Glorious Spring also ran. The final time was 1:36.16 and Mario Gutierrez rode the winner for Ben Cecil.
Grade 2 Pat O’Brien – August 26 – 7 furlongs dirt
This was a competitive race. Brickyard Ride dueled with Vivir Con Alegria (CHI) through a quarter in 21.49 and a half in 44.44. Spirit of Makena chased the pace and moved up outside, and Sir Atticus was stalking inside and Anarchist was stalking outside. Spirit of Makena led in the lane but Anarchist confronted him and hit the front. Bye Bye Bobby was last for the opening half and was flying down the middle of the stretch, but Anarchist ($7.00) got the jump and scored by 3/4ths of a length. Bye Bye Bobby was second at 33-1 and C Z Rocket rallied for the show at 15-1. Sir Atticus was an okay fourth but was overbet at 3-1. Spirit of Makena weakened to 5th and was followed by Hoist the Gold, Moose Mitchell, Brickyard Ride, Vivir Con Alegria, and Go Joe Won. The final time was 1:23.21 and Ramon Vazquez rode the winner for Doug O’Neill.
Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap – August 27 – 6 1/2 furlongs dirt
Princess Adaleigh stumbled at the start but recovered quickly and was in front after a quarter in 21.74. Strong favorite Eda pressed the pace outside and was always traveling well under Juan Hernandez. The top two held their positions through a half in 45.07, and Eda was ratcheting up the pressure. Violent Runner and Home Cooking were behind the top two. Lady T was racing wide near the back of the pack with Muted and Kirstenbosch. Eda ($3.60) struck the front in the lane and was home free. She won by a length and a half over my late running value top choice Kirstenbosch. The latter was turning back in distance and closed nicely in a clear runner-up finish. Princess Adaleigh held the show over a wide Lady T. Violent Runner, Home Cooking, and Muted trailed. The final time was 1:16.49 and Bob Baffert’s winning filly sure has a nose for the wire. She has not lost a race since September 2021. I thought Kirstenbosch ran a quality race. She is a Grade 3 winner over a route of ground but is a decent late running sprinter as well.
Check out all of the Del Mar stakes recaps each week!
Del Mar week 1 stakes recaps (July 21-23)
Del Mar week 2 stakes recaps (July 27-30)
Del Mar week 3 stakes recaps (Aug 4-6)