Pearl de Vere Completes Van Dyke Double
Apprentice Drayden Van Dyke, the leading rider at the inaugural Summer Thoroughbred Festival, had his first multiple win day of the Fall meet Thursday at Los Alamitos.
Van Dyke, who had one victory through the first three days of the 11-day season, doubled his output as the second week of the meet began, including a come-from-behind victory aboard 6-1 shot Pearl de Vere in the $47,854 feature.
Two races after winning with Mia Luccia ($14), Van Dyke guided Pearl de Vere, a 4-year-old Songandaprayer filly, to her second win in three weeks. She had won a starter allowance Aug. 21 at Del Mar, upsetting favored Bunuska.
Owned by Gatto Racing, LLC and Nicholas J. Gatto and trained by Peter Eurton, Pearl de Vere, who is out of the Hawk Wing mare The Dove, was reserved off the rapid early pace set by 20-1 shot Backwoods Belle, began to rally while wide approaching the stretch, then collared 20-1 shot Winning Vision inside the final eighth of a mile to prevail by 1 ¼ lengths.
The win was the third in 17 races for the Florida-bred and pushed her earnings to $133,888. She paid $14.20, $7.80 and $5 while running the six furlongs in 1:08.73.
Making her first start since March 16 at Turf Paradise for trainer Molly Pearson, Winning Vision, the second longest shot in the field of eight at 20-1, had a clear lead after Backwoods Belle retreated and wound up a clear second, 4 ¾ lengths in front of 9-1 outsider On Golden Pawn.
Ridden by Kayla Stra, Winning Vision, who was making her initial start outside Arizona, paid $17.20 and $7.60 while On Golden Paid returned $4.60 to show.
Completing the order of finish were Peppy Bolly, Harlington’s Rose, Backwoods Belle, Tizmetizyou and 2-1 favorite Lucky S.J., who suffered her first loss after beginning her career with two wins. Brilliant Melody was scratched.
With his double, Van Dyke moved into a five-way tie for the top spot in the jockey standings. Other riders with three wins include William Antongeorgi III, Edwin Maldonado, Martin Pedroza and Fernando Perez.
Racing resumes Friday at Los Alamitos. Post time is 2 p.m.
Source: Los Alamitos Race Course