Om garnered his first graded score Sunday in pillar-to-post fashion in the GII Del Mar Derby. The chestnut got off the mark in his second career start, besting subsequent Triple Crown winner American Pharaoh (Pioneerof the Nile), over the Del Mar synthetic last August. He returned to the races with a flat fifth in the San Pedro S. at Santa Anita Apr. 12 and took to the turf when he annexed a one-mile optional claimer in Arcadia Apr. 12. Om was put back on the dirt for the 1 1/16-mile stretch out in the GIII Affirmed S. and weakned to third behind Gimme Da Lute (Midnight Lute) June 7. He returned to the grass last time out and was runner-up to Prospect Park (Tapit) in the GIII La Jolla H. here Aug. 9. Sent postward as the third choice while removing blinkers for the first time in his career, Om went straight to the front and coasted along on the lead through fractions of :23.58 and :47.71. Asked for more as Prospect Park challenged for command on the turn, he responded well and kicked home to a devisive victory. Royal Albert Hall finished best of the others to complete the exacta.
“We pointed for this,” said trainer Dan Hendricks. “It's just good when everything pays off. You do your due diligence and the harder you work the luckier you get. He's what I would call a really old-school horse. He's just a coarse, tough, good feeling horse and it worked out just the way we'd talked about for two weeks. I've won just about every Derby in Southern California–Santa Anita, Hollywood, Oak Tree and now this one. This was my dream to win this race and it really means a lot to me. As much as my Santa Anita Derby.”
Sunday, Del Mar
DEL MAR DERBY S.-GII, $250,500, DMR, 9-6, 3yo,
1 1/8mT, 1:47.79, fm.
1–#@OM, 122, c, 3, by Munnings">Munnings
1st Dam: Rare Cat, by Tabasco Cat
2nd Dam: Beacci, by Alydar
3rd Dam: Marnie's Majik, by Elocutionist
($60,000 Ylg '13 KEESEP; $125,000 2yo '14
BARMAR). O-Sareen Family Trust; B-Lavin
Bloodstock, Bernie Sams & William S. Farish, Jr. (KY);
T-Dan L. Hendricks; J-Gary L. Stevens. $150,000.
Lifetime Record: 7-3-1-1, $274,500. *1/2 to Bear
Dixiecat (Dixie Union), SP, $212,691. Werk Nick
Rating: A. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
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2–Royal Albert Hall (GB), 122, g, 3, Royal Applause
(GB)–Victoria Sponge (Ire), by Marju (Ire). (33,000gns
Ylg '13 TAOCT; £25,000 2yo '14 DONBRE).
O-Steven Keh, Scott Knight, Mike Ryan & Westside
Rentals.com; B-Old Mill Stud & S. Williams & J. Parry
(GB); T-Doug F. O'Neill. $50,000.
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3–Prospect Park, 122, c, 3, Tapit–Quiet Romance, by
Bertrando. O/B-Pam & Martin Wygod (KY); T-Clifford
W. Sise, Jr. $30,000.
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Margins: 2 1/4, 2HF, 2HF. Odds: 6.50, 30.20, 0.30.
Also Ran: Crittenden, Soul Driver, Papacoolpapacool, Win the Space. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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