Mr Vargas beats out Eddie Haskell, Stormy Liberal in Green Flash

In a race that featured two-time Breeders’ Cup champion Stormy Liberal and Del Mar specialist Eddie Haskell, it was Mr Vargas who took Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Green Flash Handicap.

Under jockey Joe Talamo, the Brian Koriner trainee Mr Vargas covered the five furlongs over Del Mar’s turf in 56.15 seconds, paying $8.40 to win.

Eddie Haskell ran second, two lengths back of the winner, followed by Stormy Liberal in third.

"The plan was to get him out there and make the lead," Talamo said of Mr Vargas. "He did his part. He got a little breather when I dropped over at the (half-mile pole) and again on the turn, but otherwise he was running hard all the way.

"When they came for him he just went on. I was afraid they were going to be closing on us, so I went for it and he responded very well. He’s a really nice horse.”

Mr Vargas is a 5-year-old gelded son of Midshipman who owns four wins over 11 career starts. Jay Em Ess Stable campaigns the Florida-bred runner who made Saturday’s Green Flash his first career stakes win.

The 6-year-old gelding Eddie Haskell went off as the 6-5 favorite. Saturday’s race marked only the second time over eight Del Mar starts that the Mark Glatt trainee hasn’t crossed the wire first.

"The winner was just too tough today," said Eddie Haskell jockey Kent Desormeaux.

Stormy Liberal’s start was his first since running third March 30 at Meydan Racecourse in the Al Quoz Sprint (G1). The 7-year-old gelding, who won a non-graded edition of the Green Flash las August, is the two-time defending Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint hero.

"I think this race will serve him well on down the line," said jockey Drayden Van Dyke, who rode Stormy Liberal.