Del Mar: Skinner seeks 1st stakes win in Native Diver
The Grade 3, $100,000 Native Diver, run at 1 1/8 miles on Del Mar's main track, has attracted seven runners, including a horse that nearly ran in the Kentucky Derby this year.
Skinner was in Louisville when he spiked a fever a day before the Derby. He came back two months later to run second to Reincarnate in the Los Alamitos Derby followed by a fifth in the Pacific Classic (G1) and a fifth in the Awesome Again (G1).
At first glance one might assume the Native Diver is a step down, an easier race for Skinner than his past two, but don’t try telling that to trainer John Shirreffs.
“It’s the only race available to him at this time,” he said, “and I don’t know that there are any easier races here (at Del Mar) or in California.”
Bob Baffert brings Mr Fisk back for the Native Diver. The 3-year old son of Arrogate was last seen in a dead-heat in the $125,000 Shared Belief on Pacific Classic day.
“We’ve taken our time with him,” Baffert said. “He’s like his sire. The farther they go the better he’ll be. It’s his first time with older horses but I think he’s doing very well.”
Mr Fisk, who is also in search of his first graded stakes victory, returns from a two and a half month layoff.
“He wasn’t ready for anything,” Baffert said, “and there wasn’t much (for him to run in). We had the Breeders’ Cup. He’s still maturing. I think he’s going to be a better 4-year-old.”
The horse Mr Fisk dead-heated with in September, Tahoe Sunrise, came back and won a salty second-level allowance race at Del Mar Friday.
Newgrange ran in the Native Diver last year, finishing third behind Defunded and Azul Coast. He’s only run three times in 2023, winning the San Pasqual (G2) in January, running seventh in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) in March, and running third in optional claiming race following a seven-month layoff.
“He’s second off the bench,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “I think he got the cobwebs off in the last race and he should be firing on all cylinders.
“It’s the right spot (for Newgrange). He’s won a couple of graded stakes races. I don’t think there are any Grade 1 world- beaters in there but a real nice solid field of graded stakes horses. So we’re going to give it a shot.”
The Native Diver is the eighth race on a nine-race Sunday card. It’s the 46th running of the race named after the popular racehorse from the 1960s. Past winners include Best Pal, Alphabet Soup, Game On Dude, Dortmund, and Battle of Midway. Approximate post time for the stakes is 6:55 p.m. EST.