Abbondanza Racing LLC or McCauley's Free Rose got first run into a hot pace and held off a cavalry charge of closers to notch his second consecutive graded stakes score over the Del Mar turf course. The dark bay was acquired by Abbondanza Racing from owner/trainer Tevis McCauley ahead of the iconic summer meet and has showed an immediate liking for the West 
Coast in the Richard Baltas barn.
Free Rose began his career competing on dirt in the Mid-Atlantic for owner Ron McCauley and trainer Cal Lynch and was transferred to the care of Ron's son Tevis early this year. The gelding won once from three starts in Kentucky–a wire-to-wire score in a nine-panel starter allowance over the Keeneland turf Apr. 21. Shipped west following a third-place finish over that same trip at Churchill May 15, he finished third for Abbondaza Racing in a 1 1/16-mile allowance test at Del Mar July 23 prior to his front-running 28-1 upset in the GIII La Jolla H. Aug. 6.
Let go at double-digit odds in this spot with the McCauley name reappearing as a co-owner, Free Rose established an ideal position tracking the pace as Mr. Roary (Scat Daddy) rolled through fractions of :22.37 and :45.92. Sent up to engage that rival on the far turn, he moved clear with ease, cornered for home with a clear advantage and was fully extended in the final furlong to fend off a swarm of closers, including GISW Ralis (Square Eddie), who got the nod for second.
“His last race was very game,” said Baltas. “I told [jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr.] that [Mr. Roary] was going to go for the lead, so he just sat second and then made a hell of a move around the turn. He just kind of said 'I'll see you guys later.'”
Pedigree Notes:
The winner is a half to Sylven Park (Wildcat Heir), who recently placed second in Monmouth's My Frenchman S. Aug. 13 and is set to compete in the GIII Turf Monster S. at Parx Monday. His second dam is a half to European champion 2-year-old One Cool Cat (Storm Cat). Birdie Birdie is also responsible for the unraced juvenile filly Angela Gail (Maclean's Music), a yearling filly by Curlin and a weanling colt by Temple City. She was most recently bred back to Twirling Candy.
Sunday, Del Mar
DEL MAR DERBY-GII, $253,105, DMR, 9-4, 3yo, 1 1/8mT, 1:47.70, fm.
1–FREE ROSE, 122, g, 3, by Munnings">Munnings
1st Dam: Birdie Birdie, by El Prado (Ire)
2nd Dam: Dominique's Show, by Theatrical (Ire)
3rd Dam: Tacha, by Mr. Prospector
($22,000 RNA Ylg '14 FTKOCT). O-Abbondanza Racing, LLC &
Nathan McCauley; B-Nathan John McCauley (KY); T-Richard
Baltas; J-Norberto Arroyo, Jr. $150,000. Lifetime Record:
11-4-1-2, $314,760. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*.
Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
[bullet ad=”paramount-free-rose-double-bullet”][bullet ad=”webb-carroll-another-wctc-grad”]2–Ralis, 122, c, 3, Square Eddie–Silar Rules, by Ten Most
Wanted. O/B-Reddam Racing, LLC (CA); T-Doug F. O'Neill.
$50,000.
3–Dressed in Hermes, 122, g, 3, Hat Trick (Jpn)–Elusive Fashion,
by Elusive Quality. O/B-Budget Stables (KY); T-Janet
Armstrong. $30,000.
Margins: HF, NO, NO. Odds: 11.90, 6.60, 11.20.
Also Ran: Monster Bea, Lucky Bryan, Blackjackcat, Moonlight Drive (Ity), Diplodocus, Ebadan (Ire), Trojan Nation, I'malreadythere, Gold Rush Dancer, Arcature, Mr. Roary. Scratched: Curlin Rules, Materialistic.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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