DEL MAR : Nakatani Continues Stakes Streak
Laffit Pincay set the Del Mar single-season record with 12 stakes victories in 1976.
At his present pace, Corey Nakatani will surpass him before the 43-day meeting’s half over.
Nakatani made it four stakes victories in four days with a 3 1/2-length triumph aboard Twilight Agenda in the $158,400 San Diego Handicap Saturday.
Obviously, the 5-year-old Devil’s Bag horse doesn’t have an aversion to exercise. The San Diego was his fourth start since June 21, and he hasn’t lost since trainer Wayne Lukas put him on dirt June 29.
He won the Super Diamond Handicap that day, two races after stablemate Farma Way was beaten in a photo finish by Marquetry in the Hollywood Gold Cup, then returned two weeks later and defeated Timebank in the Bel Air Handicap.
Raced exclusively in Europe at 3 and 4, Twilight Agenda led all the way in his two victories at Hollywood Park, but Saturday he followed longshot leader Asia.
The 5-2 third choice took over with about three furlongs to run and never was threatened seriously, although he again drifted out through the stretch. He had done the same thing in his previous two victories.
Roanoke, who was also 5-2, was second, a little more than two lengths in front of Louis Cyphre, the 2-1 favorite.
The San Diego brightened what had been a disappointing day for Lukas. He had watched earlier when Corporate Report lost in a photo to Lost Mountain in Monmouth’s Haskell, then saw Navajo Pass, a full sister to Terlingua and Pancho Villa and a $2.1-million yearling, blow what appeared to be an insurmountable lead in her career debut in the sixth race.
“I told Corey before the race to lay 1-2-3, and if someone wants the lead to let them take (it) and make your run from the three-eighths pole,” Lukas said. “This horse is on a roll right now, and I think he has a lot of quality.
“We’ve got Farma Way cranked up for the Classic (the $1-million Pacific Classic Aug. 10), and their styles don’t complement each other anyway. The logical spot (for Twilight Agenda) probably is the ($200,000 Budweiser Breeders’ Cup Sept. 8).”
Nakatani was just happy to be aboard Twilight Agenda after missing the Bel Air. He was sick with flu, so Pat Valenzuela rode him that day.
“I really appreciate the fact that Wayne and the owners let me get back on this horse,” he said. “He was getting out a bit in the stretch again. I think it’s because of racing in Europe. They learn to kick it in on that left lead.
“It’s been all going right for me at the meet. Sometimes, it all goes right.”
Roanoke, who came from off the pace to win the Californian, was wide most of the way, but he gained no ground on the winner in the final furlong.
“He’s a steady going horse, just one run,” Eddie Delahoussaye said. “They went the half-mile in 46, but if they go in 45 2/5 or something like that, he’d be picking them up late. He needs something to shoot at. But, I have no complaints. He ran super.”
Gary Stevens, Louis Cyphre’s rider, didn’t think his mount liked being inside.
“He got to jumping up and down on me some,” he said. “He was excited in the post parade, and I think that took something out of him.”
Aguilucho was fourth, then came Stylish Winner, Stalwart Charger and Asia. Jungle Pioneer, Warcraft, who ran in a turf race Friday, and Northern Beau, who is entered in today’s seventh race, were scratched.
Alcando, who won the Beverly Hills Handicap at 28-1 in her last start at Hollywood Park, tops the field for the first division of the $75,000 Palomar Handicap today at Del Mar.
In the second division, Heart Of Joy will go for her fourth victory in five American starts against six rivals.
Fresh off a 4 1/2-length victory in the Chapel Of Dreams Handicap at Golden Gate, Alcando won wire to wire in the Beverly Hills, beating 4-5 stablemate Fire The Groom by a length. Eddie Delahoussaye will ride the 5-year-old Alzao mare today in the 1 1/16 mile Palomar.
Others in the field include Annual Reunion, La Kaldoun, Spring Daffodil, Guiza, Godsin and Agirlfromars.
Trainer Gary Jones will have Chris McCarron aboard Heart Of Joy, seeking her third consecutive victory. Others scheduled to start are Slew Of Pearls, who won the Del Mar Oaks last year, Sweet Roberta, Reluctant Guest, Somethingmerry, Countus In and defending champion Jabalina Brown. The latter won the race by a neck at 22-1 in 1990, defeating Stylish Star and Nikishka. Polar Bird and Lady Wishing Well were scratched late Saturday afternoon.
Julio Garcia will begin a five-day suspension today for an incident in the final race of the Hollywood Park meeting July 22.
Garcia drifted out aboard 23-1 shot Camp Bowie, who was tiring in the 1 1/4-mile turf race, and he was suspended for “failure to maintain a straight course and causing interference to rivals.”
Alex Solis will begin a five-day suspension Monday after being disqualified aboard Medium Coll in the first race on Hollywood Park’s final program. Medium Cool finished third, but was moved down to fourth.
Horse Racing Notes
Akinemod, who hasn’t been seen since winning the El Encino Stakes by 13 lengths in Jan., 1990, worked six furlongs in 1:10 2/5 Saturday morning. . . . In the day’s fifth race, She’s A V.P. outfinished Tropical Stephanie, her half-sister, to post a 7-1 upset. Although they have different sires, She’s A V.P. and Tropical Stephanie were produced by Stephanie Bryn.
Wayne Lukas wasn’t happy with Nakatani’s ride aboard Navajo Pass, feeling he moved too soon. “I told him that she’s by Secretariat, but that doesn’t mean she is Secretariat,” Lukas said. “She’s so talented. She’s an exceptional filly, she just got a little late.” La Spia, a filly Navajo Pass ran by while going to the lead, came on again for the victory. . . . Gary Stevens and Alex Solis both had two winners Saturday.
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