Del Mar: Planetario finds a seam, upsets Hollywood Turf Cup

Planetario benefitted from a heady ride by Hector Berrios and managed to hang on for a neck score Friday at Del Mar in the Grade 2, $201,000 Hollywood Turf Cup, a 12-furlong marathon on the track’s Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

The 5-year-old Brazil-bred, trained by Richard Mandella and owned by Red Rafa Stud, lagged back early and saved ground under the Chile-born Berrios, then was put to the task turning for home. The rider asked his charge to split horses at the head of the lane and, in doing so, all but ensured he could win the race. Then he dug in late in the shadow of the wire and held off the race’s 7-5 favorite, the Chad Brown-trained Francesco Clemente, to take down the top prize.

Finishing third in the card headliner was Lukka, who was just a nose behind the runner-up.

Berrios said the furious finish was part of the plan.

“I wanted to run behind (horses) where he is more relaxed. We came close (to other horses) in the stretch but a little space opened and my horse, he responded. He had a good finish at the finish line.”

Mandella praised Berrios's ride.

“Great ride by Berrios," he said. "He didn’t lose an inch of ground. He sat still on him and just rode him with a lot of confidence. That didn’t hurt him (going back to the mile and a half). He carries a lot of weight but it doesn’t take anything out of him.”

Planetario was winning the seventh race of his career in his 15th start, earning $120,000 for his efforts. The son of the Brazil stallion Il Doge increased his career earnings to $266,548. His first five tallies came in his native Brazil where he was bred by Red Rafa Stud’s owner, Ricardo Steinbruch.

Planetario paid $12.40 to win. He covered the mile and one half in 2:28.02.

The win was Mandella's first in the Hollywood Turf Cup and moved his career stakes win total at Del Mar to 76, fourth-most by all trainers.