Race Preview: CTT & TOC Handicap – Del Mar, August 23, 2013

Photo: Matt Carter

The feature race at Del Mar on Friday is the 16th running of the $90,000 CTT & TOC Handicap for fillies and mares. The 11 furlong turf race drew a field of ten, led by morning line favorite Midnight Music.

Midnight Music, the Irish-bred daughter of Dubawi, came to the U.S. last year after a campaign in her native Ireland for trainer Dermot Weld. In Ireland she won four times in 13 starts, but only had one win in her last six starts before coming to the states. Since joining the Tom Proctor stable, Midnight Music was third in a small stakes in May at Churchill then was second as the favorite in a small stakes at Hollywood Park. She was a winner in marathon races in Ireland, including one at two miles.

While she may be the mare to beat, Midnight Magic is not without her concerns. She looks very one paced and there are others that offer more value.

Topic exits a third place finish in the Grade 1 American Oaks and stretches out to a distance that would flatter her late kick. Jockey Garrett Gomez loves to sit back and make one run so he should fit this filly well. Good Karma began her career in Italy with six wins in 11 starts, but has only won once in her six U.S. starts. She may have been a throw out except she stepped up gamely in her last, a small stakes at Santa Rosa, winning by a head. Third place in that race was Halo Dolly, who just won the Solana Beach Handicap at Del Mar on Sunday.

I Dazzle also fits and will be running late while Miss Pippa is likely to keep Good Karma company on the front end and if they go slow enough could run 1-2 around the track. La Zubia is the upset pick, making her second start off a layoff. Her Racing Post Racings were just as good as those earned by Midnight Music and the last time the Montjeu filly ran second off the layoff, she won.

First post on Friday at Del Mar is 7:05 pm ET with the CTT & TOC scheduled to break from the gate at 9:30.