Enriched Wires Field in Del Mar Mile
Enriched, half-brother to 2006 Pacific Classic winner Lava Man, earned his stakes spurs today with a game wire-to-wire triumph Saturday in the $190,000 Del Mar Mile, a supporting feature on the day of the 20th running of the $1 million Pacific Classic.
With jockey Joel Rosario in the saddle for his third consecutive win on the program, Enriched held on tenaciously in the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:34.83 for the mile over the infield grass course.
Meteore, sent postward at 7-1, tried valiantly to overhaul the winner, but had to settle for second, a neck in front of Bruce's Dream. Blue Chagall was fourth in the field of six runners. Golden Mexico was withdrawn from the original line-up.
Enriched, the lukewarm 2-1 favorite, paid $6.40, $3.80 and $2.60 while earning first money of $105,000. Since being claimed for $32,000 November 1 of 2009 at Santa Anita by trainer Doug O'Neill, the son of High Brite and Li'l Ms. Leonard has won $340,676 with three victories, four seconds and three thirds in a dozen starts for new owners Glenn Sorgenstein and Joshua Kaplan of W.C. Racing, Mark Verge and Neil Haymes. The five-year-old California-bred gelding had been stakes-placed six times, but the Del Mar Mile marked his initial success in an added-money race.
Lava Man, also haltered by O'Neill, ranks as the greatest claim in Thoroughbred racing history, winning $5,170,103 after switching barns.
Meteore returned $6.20 and $3.20, while Bruce's Dream, second choice in the betting, paid $2.60 to show.