DEL MAR : Victory in Relaunch Shows Mr Purple Can Run on Green

If Mr Purple were Mr. Ed, he could say he has done everything now except win on an off track.

Before he won the Affirmed Handicap on July 2 at Hollywood Park, he had never won a race around two turns.

Before he took the $76,150 Relaunch Handicap here on Monday, the 3-year-old Deputy Minister colt had never won on turf.

Second in the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields and second in the Will Rogers Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Hollywood Park in his first two races on turf, Mr Purple won Monday’s Relaunch the way a 4-5 shot is expected to.

Last early under Corey Nakatani, he rallied wide around the turn, collared 5-2 second choice Private Interview in the final furlong and drew clear to win by nearly two lengths. Winning for the fifth time in 12 starts for owner Alex Campbell Jr. and trainer Ron McAnally, Mr Purple covered the mile in 1:35 3/5.

The Relaunch was the first start for Mr Purple since he was pulled up by Nakatani running far behind as the 2-1 second choice in last month’s Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park.

It was discovered afterward that the colt’s epiglottis was entrapped, interfering with his breathing.

According to McAnally, this had happened in other races, but when a veterinarian checked Mr Purple after the Swaps, the epiglottis had gone back in place.

“There was some concern today about that,” McAnally said. “You don’t know when they’re going to do it again.”

McAnally said Mr Purple wasn’t nominated for either the Molson Million on Sept. 17 at Woodbine in Toronto or the Super Derby on Sept. 30 at Louisiana Downs near Shreveport and isn’t sure where he will run next. *

Ten 3-year-olds were invited to the $300,000 Del Mar Derby, which will be run for the 51st time next Monday.

Lake George, unbeaten since being switched to the grass two races ago, will try to follow up his victory in the first division of the opening-day Oceanside Stakes in the Derby. Nakatani will ride for trainer Mike Orman.

Other horses invited are Beau Temps, Via Lombardia, who won the Will Rogers and Cinema at Hollywood Park; Da Hoss, Longliner, Native Regent, Pinfloron, Semi Maar, Sharpest Image and Petionville.

*

A disappointing third in the Rancho Bernardo Breeders’ Cup on Aug. 13, Lakeway was assigned high weight of 121 pounds for Sunday’s $300,000 Chula Vista Handicap.

In her first start in nearly a year, Lakeway finished behind Track Gal and Desert Stormer in the 6 1/2-furlong Rancho Bernardo after breaking from the rail.

The best 3-year-old filly in the country last year before going on the shelf, Lakeway should improve with the extra distance. The Chula Vista goes at 1 1/16 miles.

Among others expected to run are Borodislew (118 pounds), Top Rung and Wild Lightning (117), Angi Go (116) and possibly Phone Chatter (118) and Lunar Spook (114).

Horse Racing Notes

Jockey Jose Valdivia had two winners for the second consecutive day. He won with Main Slew and I’m Really Trying on Sunday, then swept the early daily double on Monday with Devil’s Plaything and My Man Erin. Valdivia, 20, is the nephew of former rider Fernando Toro. . . . Smooth Runner is the 4-5 favorite against five opponents in the $75,000 How Now Handicap on Wednesday. The How Now is run at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. . . . The day after winning the Hopeful with Hennessy, trainer Wayne Lukas and jockey Gary Stevens combined to take the Spinaway, the closing-day feature at Saratoga, with Golden Attraction on Monday. Earlier in the program, La Turka defeated heavily favored Duda in the $50,000 Waya at 1 3/8 miles on the turf.