Del Mar news: Racing office faces 'lower inventory' of horses
Close of entries and the post position draw for Friday’s card were still a few hours away Tuesday morning as Executive Vice President of Racing Tom Robbins looked over the first two programs of the meeting.
“We’re happy with the first two days, given the lower inventory of horses in California this year and other circumstances,” Robbins said. “We’re doing our best to put together the best races we can on a five-day-a-week basis, but we know that it’s going to be a challenge.”
Wednesday’s opening day 10-race program drew 81 entries and had eight horses on also eligible status. On Thursday, the seven-race program has 59 total entries and two also eligibles.
The Santa Anita and Los Alamitos meetings which precede Del Mar both wound up cancelling racing days, something that Robbins and Racing Secretary David Jerkens hope to avoid by reducing the number of races. The aim is for 40 races per week, down from an average of 43 per week in 2018.
Jerkens’ mantra, since taking over racing secretary duties five summers ago, had been “One day at a time.”
To which Robbins, in his 39th year at Del Mar, adds an "Amen."
“It’s very true, this year,” Robbins said.
SNEAKING OUT IS ‘IN’ AS FLEET TREAT FAVORITE
KMN Racing’s Sneaking Out, most recently the runner-up in the Summertime Oaks (G2) in May at Santa Anita, was tabbed as the 6-5 favorite in a field of seven for Thursday’s $150,000 Fleet Treat Stakes for 3-year-old California-bred or sired fillies.
Trained by J. Keith Desormeaux, Sneaking Out began a streak of four races in which she crossed under the wire first, with a 10 ½-length maiden-breaking romp in her second start here on the September 2, closing day of the 2018 meeting. The victory streak ended when the daughter of Indian Evening was disqualified to second in the Angels Flight on May 4 at Santa Anita. She led through most of the 1 1/16-mile Summertime Oaks before missing by a half-length as the even money favorite.
The Fleet Treat is seven furlongs on the main track.
The field from the rail: Sneaking Out (Drayden Van Dyke, 6-5), Violette Szabo (Norberto Arroyo, Jr., 12-1), Takethediamondlane (Joe Talamo, 4-1), Opus Won (Mario Gutierrez, 6-1), Tiz a Master (Mike Smith, 6-1), Ruby Bradley (Aaron Gryder, 8-1) and Hollywood Hills (Flavien Prat, 5-1).
CLOSERS – Bob Baffert assistant Jim Barnes and crew have their stable area looking sharp as usual for the Hall of Fame trainer’s arrival on Wednesday. Stable stars McKinzie and Game Winner, the 2018 Del Mar Futurity (G1) winner, are occupying stalls that once housed the likes of Triple Crown winners American Pharoah and Justify, among many other notables … Selected works from 72 officially timed on Tuesday morning: American Anthem (3f, :37.00), Secret Spice (5f, :59.60).