See who is not surprised by 24-1 shocker at Del Mar

Astronaut (24-1) topped a trio of long shots in the money Saturday in the Grade 2, $300,000 Del Mar Handicap. Master Piece (23-1) and Acclimate (10-1) were second and third.

The win by the 4-year-old son of Quality Road in the 1 3/8-mile turf marathon came as a shock to many, but not to his immediate connections.

“I wasn’t surprised,” Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza said. “I thought in his last race (the 1 3/4-mile San Juan Capistrano in June) he was a little too close, and the race was a little too long for him.”

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Astronaut settled in seventh place Saturday in the field of 11 and made a sustained run through the last three-eighths to prevail by a half-length.

“We wanted to run him long, but we weren’t sure how long,” trainer John Shirreffs said. “And when he ran so well going a mile-and-three-quarters, it seemed like this was possible.”

The race being a “win and you’re in” qualifier for the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 6, Astronaut’s place in it is not only possible, but probable.

Saturday’s favorite United had traffic problems from the mile mark to mid-stretch and finished fourth.

“It was frustrating,” said Gary Mandella, the son of trainer Richard Mandella. “He had bad racing luck, didn’t get the kind of trip he needs to show himself off and had to settle for fourth when we thought he was the best horse.”