A look at a horse, an owner, a trainer and a rider of interest in the coming weekend at Del Mar
Horse – Gio Ponti
Notable: Top North American-based 3-year-old turf horse shipped in from the East for Sunday's $350,000 Del Mar Derby ... Trained by Christophe Clement but in the hands of assistant Nicholas Bachalard for the race. ... Comes in off victories in the Grade III Hill Prince on June 8 at Belmont Park and the Grade II Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs on July 19. ... Has four wins in five starts, with the lone loss coming to Nownownow, one of nine Del Mar Derby rivals, in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf last October at Monmouth Park in only start on a turf course rated other than “firm.” ... Garrett Gomez, 3-for-3 on Gio Ponti overall, including the past two graded stakes, will ride.
Quote of note: “I think you're going to see an exceptionally good horse in this one.” – Ron Anderson, agent for Gomez
Owner – Taub & Visionary Racing LLC
Notable: Steve Taub, a former Los Angeles-area auto dealer, and trainer Kristin Mulhall, who races under the nom de course Visionary Racing, will send out Sky Cape, winner of the steppingstone La Jolla Handicap, in Sunday's Del Mar Derby. ... Duo gained national attention in 2004 when Taub's one-eyed gray colt Imperialism, trained by a then-21-year-old Mulhall, ran in the Kentucky Derby. Victory would have made Mulhall the youngest trainer, and first female, to win the Run for the Roses, but Imperialism finished a solidly closing third behind Smarty Jones. ... The La Jolla was the third straight win for Sky Cape, a 3-year-old Najran colt, but coming off a layoff of 2½ months, was overlooked in the betting and went off at odds of nearly 13-1.
Quote of note: “I would have been very happy with third in here.” – Mulhall, after the La Jolla
Trainer – Patrick Gallagher
Notable: Has Irish-breds Spinning Sound – double-entered in today's El Cajon Stakes and Sunday's Derby with the El Cajon being the greater possibility – and Miss Singhsix in Sunday's Torrey Pines Stakes. ... Gallagher, 52, a native of Ireland, came to the United States in 1980 on a visit, and after a brief return to his homeland, came back to stay. ... Worked for John Sullivan and later riding legend Bill Shoemaker, and took over for Shoemaker upon the latter's retirement in 1998. ... Has six Del Mar stakes victories, including the 2000 Derby with Walkslikeaduck.
Quote of Note: “Miss Singhsix is by Singspiel and Singspiels tend to get better as they mature and get more experience. Hopefully that's what will happen with her. She has improved each time the two races we've had since we brought her over from Ireland.” – Gallagher
Rider – Rafael Bejarano
Notable: Closing in on the meet riding championship in first summer at Del Mar with 39 wins through yesterday, seven more than Joel Rosario and eight in front of Tyler Baze. ... Has mounts on Slew's Tiznow in today's El Cajon, Kris' Sis in tomorrow's Palomar, Golden Doc A in Sunday's Torrey Pines and Kilderry in Sunday's Derby. ... Bejarano, 26, relocated from Churchill Downs base in Louisville, Ky., last fall to Southern California circuit to ride first call for Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel. Since then, he has expanded his business by winning riding championships at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park. ... Has four stakes wins for the meeting to go with one on a one-day fly-in last year aboard Precious Kitten in the John C. Mabee Handicap.
– HANK WESCH
