Arrogate ready for stakes company, Sobrado Inc takes to U.S. turf

DEL MAR HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (8/4):

Arrogate beat only two horses winning a scratch-depleted 2^nd Race, but the Bob Baffert trainee did so in good fashion and could be headed to Saratoga for a Travers S. (G1) bid at the end of the month. The $560,000 Unbridled’s Song colt is on quite a roll presently, recording two straight convincing allowance tallies since easily breaking his maiden the second time out in early June, and while he could be any kind going forward, the Travers would certainly be an ambitious placement at this stage of his development. I would prefer to see the fine prospect bite off a bit less in his stakes debut but Arrogate could get a shot against the likes of Exaggerator et al off this fine performance.

In the 6^th Race, Spirit Rules relied on his speed and class to lead at every call and posted a pretty solid final time in the claiming event. The seven-year-old has lost a step or two from his peak days, but the gelding thrives upon this main oval and still has some left in the tank when put at the right level. The California-bred was claimed by Tim McCanna and I look forward to backing him once again if he comes back at Del Mar in a sensible spot.

Friday (8/5):

In the 4^th, John Brockelbank’s Rockin Rudy debuted in a high-priced maiden claimer and proved too good for the level, drawing off by 11 ½ lengths under Joe Talamo. The juvenile colt was under a long hold late but still came home quickly, and connections appeared to get away with one running the gray youngster for a tag. I think that the son of Midshipman beat a pretty good group for the level and should be given a chance against stakes foes. The colt finished seven ticks faster than older maiden claiming foes did in closing out the card.

Saturday (8/6):

Straight Fire was expected to win the 8^th Race as the odds-on favorite, though a 10 ½-length win is not what I had in mind for the fine prospect. The Keith Desormeaux pupil did run on the best part of the oval in leading at every call but the way he continued to extend his edge at every call is what caught the eye, as did the final time Out of an A.P. Indy mare, the $250,000 Dominus yearling is bred to relish longer distances and the sky appears to be the limit for him. Pilot Kent Desormeaux did little in the lane to encourage Straight Fire, who might be the most impressive maiden winner at the meeting to this point.

Sunday (8/7):

Sobradora Inc made quite an impression when trying U.S. soil in the 7^th Race, the Osunitas. The four-year-old Group 1 heroine had a lot of work to do at the top of the lane but came home with a stirring late run, defeating a strong field for conditioner Simon Callaghan. The unbeaten daughter of Include is now 5-for-5, recording all her wins on turf, and figures to only get better off her first start since December, The four-year-old is certainly a nice addition to the distaff turf division in Southern California. 

(Benoit Photo)