Del Mar Oaks

Perfect Storm as Anisette Much the Best in Del Mar Oaks

With the threat of Hurricane Hilary looming over Southern California and Del Mar, Anisette (GB) (f, 3, Awtaad {Ire}--Tutti Frutti {GB}, by Teofilo {Ire}) took the seaside oval by storm, blowing the doors off the GI Del Mar Oaks Saturday. She remained perfect in three U.S. starts since transferring to Leonard Powell's barn from the UK earlier this year. The final time for Anisett's nine furlongs on the lawn was 1:48.15 as 'TDN Rising Star' and East Coast shipper Be Your Best (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), as well as former Irish...

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Background Check: Del Mar Oaks

In this continuing series, we examine the past winners of significant filly/mare races by the lasting influence they've had on the breed. Up today is Del Mar's GI Del Mar Oaks, inaugurated in 1957 on the dirt but a permanent fixture on the grass since the 1965 edition. As always, when there's racemares of this caliber, many will go on to become excellent producers. A few especially leap off the page for their accomplishments after racing. Following are highlights of some of the most important Del Mar Oaks winners by...

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Spendarella Named 2022 New York-Bred Horse of the Year

Gainesway Stable's Spendarella (Karakontie {Jpn}) was named 2022 New York-bred Horse of the Year--as well as champion 3-year-old filly and champion female turf horse--at the New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc.'s annual awards ceremony, sponsored by the New York Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund, at Saratoga National Golf Course Monday evening. Now four, the filly won a pair of graded events last spring before heading overseas for a runner-up effort in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot. She returned Stateside to win the GI Del Mar Oaks in August. "It's...

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APB: Spendarella Targeting Keeneland's Jenny Wiley

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack tracks down top horses on the sidelines. Gainesway homebred Spendarella (f, 3, Karakontie {Jpn}--Spanish Bunny, by Unusual Heat)--sidelined since posting a dominating 4 1/2-length victory for trainer Graham Motion in the GI Del Mar Oaks in August--will return for a 4-year-old campaign with an early-season target of the GI Jenny Wiley S. at Keeneland. "She came out of that last race with a couple of little issues and we gave her some time," said Alex Solis II, Gainesway's Director of Bloodstock...

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Karakontie's Spendarella Wins For Fun in Del Mar Oaks

Gainesway Stable's Spendarella (Karakontie {Jpn}), a huge second in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 17, put on a show in Saturday evening's GI Del Mar Oaks. Favored at 6-5 after suffering her first career defeat overseas, the New York-bred stalked the early leaders in third, hit the gas while three wide on the far turn, and kicked clear impressively in the stretch to win for fun by 4 1/2 lengths over Bellabel (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}). Spendarella began her career with three straight victories, including Gulfstream's GIII Herecomesthebride...

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Saturday Preview: Rubber Match in the Alabama

There is plenty to play for in Saturday's 142nd running of the $600,000 GI Alabama S. at Saratoga, where Nest (Curlin) and Secret Oath (Arrogate) face one another for the third time head-to-head--each with one victory to their credit--with divisional supremacy awaiting the winner. An 8 1/4-length tour-de-force tally in Keeneland's GI Central Bank Ashland S. accorded Nest the role of favoritism in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, but she was no match for the somewhat forgotten Secret Oath, dropping a two-length decision. A meritorious second to stablemate Mo Donegal...

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CARMAthon to Return Aug. 20

California Retirement Management Account (CARMA) is revamping its summer online fundraiser which will be live on TVG Saturday, Aug. 20--sharing the GI Del Mar Oaks Day coverage. Heartwarming and uplifting stories of Thoroughbred aftercare will be shared on CARMA's Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts throughout the month of August and all-day Aug. 20. "CARMAthon has been a huge win for us, especially given the circumstances surrounding the pandemic," said Billy Koch, CARMA President and Founder and Managing Partner of Little Red Feather Racing. "The racing industry has really stepped up...

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Going Global Makes Amends in Del Mar Oaks

Going Global (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) was given a letter-perfect steer from the in-form Flavien Prat and outkicked an unlucky Closing Remarks (Vronsky) to salute in Saturday's GI Del Mar Oaks. Looking to avenge her defeat at the hands of Madone (Vancouver {Aus}) in the GII San Clemente S., Going Global was off without incident from gate three and took up a mid-field position as Javanica (Medaglia d'Oro) led at a moderate tempo from 60-1 Feathers (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Ivy League (Medaglia d'Oro) into the first turn. Switched off nicely...

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Del Mar Oaks Serves as Tie Breaker for Madone and Going Global

Madone (Vancouver {Aus}) and Going Global (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) have one win each from their two prior meetings and look to break that tie Saturday in the GI Del Mar Oaks. Starting off her sophomore season with a victory in the GIII Senorita S. at Santa Anita May 1, Madone faded to sixth behind Going Global in the GIII Honeymoon S. going nine panels there 21 days later. The dark bay rallied strongly to turn the tables on that foe with a half-length success in Del Mar's one-mile GII San...

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Epaulette Filly Upends Del Mar Oaks

Dismissed at odds of 19-1, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Red Lark (Ire) (Epaulette {Aus}) rallied into the stretch and stormed down the center of the track to pull the upset in the GI Del Mar Oaks. California-bred California Kook (Boisterous) came with a barnstorming run from last to round out the exacta ahead of fellow Cal-bred Warren's Showtime (Clubhouse Ride) in third. Red Lark settled slightly worse than centerfield, with cover on the back of Warren's Showtime, as favored Laura's Light (Constitution) set the pace in advance of Parkour (Carpe Diem)....

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San Clemente Top Three Meet Euro Pair in Del Mar Oaks

The first three finishers from the local GII San Clemente S. will reconvene in Saturday's GI Del Mar Oaks with a pair of Group winners from Europe shipping in to spice things up in the nine-furlong test for 3-year-old turf fillies. Of the local hopes, San Clemente victress Laura's Light (Constitution) figures to take the most play as she tries to make it six wins in eight career outings. A debut winner sprinting on the all-weather at Golden Gate last November, the bay was privately purchased by Gary Barber out...

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