Jonathan Thomas Dominates Del Mar Turf Races, Eyes Hollywood Derby Weekend
Table of Contents
Del Mar’s fall racing season is witnessing the emergence of a true endurance specialist, as trainer Jonathan Thomas secured his second consecutive marathon turf victory on Friday, setting the stage for a thrilling Del Mar Turf Festival weekend.
Thomas’s success with distance runners is quickly becoming a hallmark of the current meet. just last week, his horse Mrs. Astor triumphed in the Red Carpet Stakes, and on Friday, it was Truly Quality who surged to victory in the Grade II, 1-mile Hollywood Turf Cup. The win, achieved under the guidance of jockey Mirco Demuro, was a testament to the horse’s stamina and the trainer’s strategic approach.
“Quality was very extraordinary today. And I thought Mirco did a very good job of getting after him early. He noticed the slow pace and was able to get him in a good spot down the backside,”
Demuro highlighted the horse’s unique racing style, stating, “He’s an unbelievable horse. I ride him in the mornings and he knows what he is doing. He is the kind of horse that sometimes puts you in a difficult position as he’s lazy at the beginning. But as you go down the stretch, he goes. He wanted to go and you don’t want to interrupt his rhythm. He’s a clever horse. He knows what to do. And he’s a one-pace horse.If you go too soon, he stops when you get to the front. If you go too late, he doesn’t make it. When he came down the stretch, he wanted to win the race.”
Hollywood Derby Headlines “Sweet Saturday” Card
The Hollywood Turf Cup served as the unofficial kickoff to the annual Del Mar Turf Festival, which reaches its peak on saturday with an expanded 11-race card beginning at 11:30 a.m. The day’s highlights include the $300,000 Grade I Hollywood Derby, featuring eight 3-year-olds vying for the top prize.
Trainer Chad Brown, a four-time winner of the Hollywood Derby at Del Mar, will saddle Salamis in this year’s edition, alongside Tom’s Magic, shipped in from the East Coast. However, Test Score (Juan Hernandez) is the morning-line favorite, having recently secured a win in the Grade II Twilight Derby at santa Anita. Test Score is currently listed at 5-2 odds, followed by Tom’s Magic (Antonio Fresu) at 7-2 and Salamis (Umberto Rispoli) at 9-2.
The saturday card also features the $200,000 Grade II Seabiscuit Handicap and the $100,000 Grade III Jimmy Durante Stakes, adding to the day’s stakes excitement. Stay Hot (Hernandez) is the early favorite for the Seabiscuit at 5-2, while Hypergamy (Fresu) is favored in the Durante.
Turf Festival Concludes with Sunday Stakes
The Del Mar fall meeting and Turf Festival will draw to a close on Sunday with a nine-race card featuring four additional stakes races. The centerpiece will be the $300,000 Grade I Matriarch, supported by the $100,000 Grade III Cecil B. DeMille and Bayakoa stakes, and also the ungraded $100,000 Story Liberal.
Jockey and Trainer Standings Heat Up
Beyond the stakes races,the jockey and trainer standings are also intensifying. Antonio Fresu secured two wins on Friday – with Heads in Beds and Jetovator – bringing him within one victory of Umberto Rispoli’s leading 14 wins. John Sadler also had a strong showing with wins from Eva Lea and Flyover, tying him with George Papaprodromou for the lead in the trainer standings at nine wins apiece.
a remarkable statistical anomaly occurred during Friday’s sixth race, where the horses finished in a numerical order of 1-2-3-4-5-6.The odds of such an outcome are a staggering 719-1, assuming equal probability for each horse.
