Del Mar: Truly Quality rallies to take Hollywood Turf Cup

Augustin Stables’ homebred Truly Quality came from the back of the pack to fire a big shot in the lane and take down honors Friday in the 43rd running of the Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar.

The 4-year-old gelding covered 1 1/2 miles of turf in 2:28.54 and returning $5.20 to his backers as the race’s 8-5 favorite.

By top sire Quality Road, Truly Quality was home first by half a length under Vincent Cheminaud in the Grade 2, $202,000 headliner.

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“I was careful about my horse today,” Cheminaud said. “The last time he was very lazy for the first half. Today it is better to ride him when he is relaxed, and he feels pretty good.”

The early fractions were 24.73, 49.27, 1:11.74, 1:38.71 and 2:04.00.

“For whatever reason he’s falling off of the pace, but he comes running, and I thought his stamina really came into play today,” winning trainer Jonathan Thomas said. “Great ride given the circumstances with the wide post, but we were able to save ground. Had we been drawn a little closer, maybe we could have been in a position or two further ahead, but it’s hard to complain with the outcome.”

The Cheminaud-Thomas combination clicked for the second time at the session after capturing the Red Carpet (G3) on Sunday with Mrs. Astor, also for Augustin Stables.

Nine horses ran in the grassy marathon, the longest of seven races in the track’s turf festival that closes the fall meet. Balnikhov finished second, 1 1/2 lengths better than Nineleventurbo.

The victory was Truly Quality’s fifth, all on grass, in his 13th start. The $120,000 winner’s share increased his bankroll to $498,995.