Euro Invaders Spice Up Jimmy Durante

Lakerball | Benoit

One wouldn't think a $100,000 Grade III all the way on the west coast would be sufficient to entice European participation, but one would be wrong, at least in this instance, as a trio of pond-jumpers add intrigue to the Jimmy Durante S. for 2-year-old turf fillies Saturday at Del Mar.

Slugo Racing's Italia (Spa) (Pyrus) is a rare Spanish-bred runner to test American soil, breaking from the rail in this 13-horse heat. Dismissed at 35-1 in her debut Sept. 19 at Saint-Cloud in France, the bay finished full of run to get up by a neck for trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias. Transferred to the Mike Puype barn and attracting the services of Mike Smith, she got a feel for the local turf course with a half-mile work around dogs in :49 2/5 (10/15) Nov. 18.

Red Barons Barn and Rancho Temescal's Thriving (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) won two of three to start her career before finishing off the board in her next two outings. Last seen running second by a half-length Sept. 14 at Salisbury in Great Britain, the Jeff Mullins trainee will race around turns for the first time here.

Cedars of Lebanon (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) annexed just one of her first seven starts, but reeled off back-to-back allowance wins at Naas in Ireland Sept. 30 and Oct. 21. She adds Lasix for this spot and also took a test drive on the Del Mar lawn when covering three furlongs around dogs in :37 3/5 (1/3) Nov. 18.

In addition to the trio of shippers, Pivottina (Fr) (Vision d'Etat {Fr}) and Monette (Fr) (Cockney Rebel {Ire}) each boast just one American outing after showing enough promise in France to make the cross-Atlantic journey. The former showed a strong late punch to be fourth in the GI Natalma S. Sept. 16 at Woodbine, while the latter just missed when second by a head in the GIII Matron S. Oct. 8 at Belmont.

Of the local chances, modestly-bred Lakerball (Lakerville) rates a long look. Failing to distinguish herself in three dirt starts, the dark bay pulled off a 33-1 upset of the Surfer Girl S. Oct. 8 at Santa Anita and legitimized that run with a five-length conquest of the Pike Place Dancer S. Oct. 27 at Golden Gate.

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