Del Mar Derby Will Be Split Into Divisions

With 34 horses nominated, and with the approval of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, racing secretary Tom Robbins announced Sunday morning that the Grade II Del Mar Derby on Sunday, September 1, would run in two divisions of 10 horses, each with a $250,000 purse.

It’s the first time that the culminating leg of the stakes series for 3-year-olds has split since 1970.

“Since we have some shippers, we’re informing them all this morning,” Robbins said outside the stable area racing office. Horses scheduled to come  in from out of state that Robbins listed are Dorsett (trainer Michael Stidham), General Election (Kelly Gorder), Infinite Magic (Richard Mettee) and Redwood Kitten (Wesley Ward).

“I was surprised at the number of nominations, it has been a race of around nine or 10,” Robbins said. “But we’ve had some great interest, and when you are limited to 10 horses you disappoint a lot of people.

“So, working with the TOC, there is enough funding for two races. So we can keep the momentum going and end the meeting with some positive feelings all the way around.”

Dice Flavor, winner of the La Jolla Handicap, and Gervinho and Rising Legend, winners of split divisions of the Oceanside Handicap on the opening day of the meeting, July 17, are among those nominated for the one and one-eighth mile grass event.

‘Silents’ Are Golden For Gary Mandella

With marquee horses like Obviously in today’s Grade II $200,000 Del Mar Handicap and Goldencents in the Grade II $250,000 Pat O’Brien, trainer Gary Mandella has been “under the radar” with Silentio in the Mile and No Silent and Mobilized in the Pat O’Brien.

“That (under the radar) is actually a really good place to be,” Mandella said with a smile Sunday morning. “Silentio in the Mile is probably the least pressure because he hasn’t run in four months and you have to be realistic about what you can accomplish.

“No Silent and Mobilized both ran really good here early in the meet and I expect they’re going to run well again. Where they fit with a raise in class against a horse like Goldencents we’re here to find out.”

Silentio and No Silent are progeny of Silent Name, a son of Sunday Silence that Mandella trained for the Wertheimer family, which bred them both and owns Silentio.

“He (Silent Name) won some very good races for us but his best race was on a synthetic track at Keeneland in the Commonwealth,” Mandella said. “I think that’s what you’re seeing with these horses.”