Saratoga & Del Mar Race Weekend Race Results
by Patricia Woo | Aug 16 2010
The Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga and the La Jolla Handicap and the John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar were held over the Aug. 14-15 weekend.
At Saratoga, the weekend kicked off with the 36th running of the $500,000 Gr. 1 Sword Dancer Invitational, a 1 ½ mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up. On hand to defend his title was Telling, a 6-year-old son of A.P. Indy trained by Steve Hobby. But Telling had failed to win in the five races since the 2009 edition of the Sword Dancer Invitational and was sent off at 10-1 odds under jockey Garret Gomez. Marlang set the pace with Interpatation, Al Khali and Expansion close by; Telling bided his time in fifth along the inside. At the final turn, the lead changed hands: Al Khali assumed the frontrunning position into the stretch. But Telling was in position to strike and grinded out the win, despite a desperate last charge by Bearpath on the outside. Telling completed the course in 2:25.29 and won by 1 ½ lengths; Bearpath rallied for second and was followed by Al Khali. Interpatation, Expansion (the 2-1 favorite), Grand Couturier, Grassy, Romp and Marlang completed the order of finish.
Also on Saturday, 3-year-olds turf runners were in the spotlight for the $150,000 Gr. 2 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar. Seven rivals lined up, including 2010 Triple Crown contender Sidney's Candy, Oceanside Stakes runner-up Macias and Snow Chief champion Alphie's Bet. And despite carrying top weight of 121 lbs and not performing as expected in the 2010 Kentucky Derby, Sidney's Candy simply dominated. The 3-year-old Candy Ride colt was pressed early on by Macias as he set swift fractions in the 1 1/16 mile race under Joel Rosario, but it wasn't even a two-horse race for long. The John Sadler-trained Sidney's Candy left Macias behind at the final turn and drew away effortlessly, leading at one point by 13 lengths; his final margin of victory was 5 ½ lengths and his winning time was a record-setting 1:39.52. Kid Edward, who was making his stakes debut, ran down Alphie's Bet to clinch second. Summer Movie, Face and an Ace, Lerov's Dynameaux, Golden Itiz and Macias rounded out the finish.
On Sunday at Del Mar, turf-running females took to the track for the $250,000 Gr. 2 John C. Mabee Stakes and a berth to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf in November. The favorite was Wasted Tears (at 6-5 odds), despite racing for the first time over grass and stretching out to 9 furlongs. With Rajiv Maragh aboard, she claimed the lead early on from longshot Lilly Fa Pootz and Turning Top. But Spring Style and Gotta Have Her gained ground along the final turn, both pressing for the advantage. Gotta Have Her was in perfect position to pounce but failed to capitalize on the seam that opened up; instead, it was 12-1 shot Lilly Fa Pootz who pulled even with Wasted Tears in the final strides. A thrilling photo finish determined that Wasted Tears had won by a mere nose in a time of 1:47.35. Following Lilly Fa Pootz to the wire were Gotta Have Her, Princess Haya, Turning Top, Gozzip Girl and Spring Style.
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