LA JOLLA HANDICAP KINGLY

Kingly, from the power-packed barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, gamely withstood the late challenge of 9-5 favorite Neptune's Storm Aug. 4 to win the featured $151,053 La Jolla Handicap (G3T) at Del Mar and pick up his first graded stakes win.

After setting a swift pace through a first quarter in :22.15 and a half in :46.16 under jockey Mario Gutierrez, Kingly was in front by just a head as six furlongs went in 1:10.48. But he was able to open up by 1 1/2 lengths through the stretch and had enough left to hold off Neptune's Storm by a neck. The final time for the 1 1/16 miles on the firm Jimmy Durante turf course was 1:39.95.


"He's a hard horse to ride," Gutierrez said. "We've tried different things with him, but today we just decided to let him do his thing. He took me (to the lead) and then he rated perfectly. In the stretch, he just went. He's a nice horse."

Jasikan, winner of the opening-day Runhappy Oceanside Stakes, closed steadily for third, 3 1/4 lengths behind Neptune's Storm and 1 1/2 lengths ahead of fourth-place Rijeka in the field of eight sophomores.

Kingly, a Tapit  half brother to grade 1 winner and sire New Year's Day and a full brother to graded stakes winner and sire Mohaymen , is owned by Clearview Stables, RAC 04 Racing, and Michael Meegan. Third last time out in the Los Alamitos Derby (G3), the 3-year-old colt scored his third victory in eight starts and increased his earnings to $242,200.

"His prior races have been a little erratic—we tried to cover him up, take him back, and a few things," said Baffert assistant Jimmy Barnes. "But at the end of the day, I think it's best to just let him run. He's a Tapit and they're all different, but I think he wants to be free on the lead. When he re-broke when the other horse got close, I was very happy with him. Mario knew what to do, he had a plan, and he executed it."

At odds of 8-1, Kingly paid $18.60, $8.60, and $4.80. Neptune's Storm, ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, returned $3.80 and $2.60, and Jasikan paid $2.60.