Rafael Bejarano sits atop the jockeys' standings during the Bing Crosby meet at Del Mar, and having had a apparent choice among multiple runners for Saturday's GIII Jimmy Durante S. at Del Mar, the fact that he has landed on Riri (Speightstown) could do all the talking.
The bay filly is perfect in two professional scores to date. A debut winner by 3 1/4 lengths down the hillside course at Santa Anita Oct. 11, the $75,000 OBS March graduate handled the stretchout to two turns with aplomb, as she sat a stalking trip before accelerating away nicely to best the promising Magnolias in Bloom (Flatter) by 3 3/4 lengths Nov. 6. With influences such as dam sire A.P. Indy, Pleasant Colony and Stage Door Johnny in her pedigree, she has the right to improve further as the distances increase over the coming months.
Riri is one of four in the Durante for trainer Phil D'Amato, two of which are drawn either side of her. Coppa (Yesbyjimminy), whose $210,000 pricetag at this year's OBS April sale exceeded the combined sales of the five other progeny of the sire to sell this spring by over $100,000, wil try to bulid on a front-running debut success Nov. 1, though she is not possessed of a pedigree that screams grass. Optimism and Hope (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) is nicely bred for the surface, but was a well-beaten third in the Riri allowance. Bejarano was in the irons when Sutton's Smile (Paddy O'Prado) won her maiden by 6 1/4 lengths at Santa Anita Oct. 17, but Victor Espinoza jumps aboard today.
Jeremy's Legacy (Ire) (Jeremy), unplaced in two starts in Europe for trainer Paul Flynn, was also ridden by Bejarano to a 5 1/2-length success from the 11 hole in her first American appearance Nov. 21 and a repeat of that effort lands her in the mix here, albeit off just seven days' rest.
Mirage (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), a maiden winner at first asking at Brighton for trainer Jamie Osborne of Toast of New York fame, was placed second in the Oct. 10 Surfer Girl S. after being impeded by Lucky Folie (Distorted Humor) in the late stages. She drew the parking lot in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Oct. 30 and found some early trouble before finishing a better-than-it-looks eighth, beaten just over four lengths by Catch a Glimpse (City Zip). TJCIS PPs
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