Notes from the San Diego Handicap Grade 2

Del Mar Handicap (Gr. II)

JOEL ROSARIO (Champ Pegasus) -- "Patrick's horse (Patrick Valenzuela aboard Red Eye Express) being so far out front (he led by double-digit lengths at one point) concerned me, but I thought he was going too fast. My horse was nice and relaxed; running easy. He's an easy horse to ride and when we came for home I was looking for a place to go -- outside, inside. A spot opened inside for me and I went for it. Easy enough. It all worked out well." 

BRICE BLANC (Buenos Dias) -- "He came back to himself today. He ran much better. We found out the last time (Sunset Handicap at Hollywood Park) when he got real hot that he didn't handle the heat. He was OK today, though. He did come back to himself and ran well." 

MARTIN PEDROZA (Worth Repeating) -- "I waited with him as much as I could, but then I had to go. He just got a little tired at the end. He ran well, but was tired at the finish." 


RICHARD MANDELLA  (Champ Pegasus) -- "I can't say I wasn't worried about Red Eyed Express being out there alone. He's a Neil Drysdale horse and you're always worried about what Neil is doing. But my horse was getting around there nice and he looked like he did at Hollywood Park [second in the Sunset Handicap] and kicked it in nice. You have to expect them to learn and get better at this. I'm pretty happy about the way he's come around. The other little horse [Worth Repeating, third] ran well, too. I've been wanting to try him long and he gave it a good try. I still think I was second."

What's next? "I'll probably run him (Champ Pegasus) in the Clement Hirsch at Hollywood Park [Oak Tree meet] and then we hope we'll be looking at the Breeders' Cup Turf. I don't know if the mile and a half wouldn't be a problem, but it's something to dream about and that's what this game is all about."


The stakes win was the sixth of the meet for Joel Rosario, but his first in the Del Mar Handicap. He now has won 13 stakes at Del Mar. The win also was his 43rd of the meet (this is Day 30 of the session) and gives him a two-win lead over Rafael Bejarano for the Del Mar riding title. 

The stakes win was the first of the meet for Richard Mandella and his first in the Del Mar Handicap. He now has won 48 stakes at Del Mar, tying him for fifth on the all-time list with trainer D. Wayne Lukas. 

Champ Pegasus' owners are Gerald Ford of Diamond A Racing Corp. and Arturo Vargas.