Mr Vargas Wins Stakes Debut in Green Flash
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Mr Vargas wins the Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar
Jay Em Ess Stable's Mr Vargas made his stakes debut a winning one when he broke on top in the $100,351 Green Flash Handicap (G3T) Aug. 17 at Del Mar and led every step, beating out a graded stakes winner and Eclipse Award champion in the process.
"He's just a runner. He ran great his first race here and did it again today," trainer Brian Koriner said. "He's a racehorse! A fast, fast horse."
Guided by Joe Talamo, Mr Vargas lengthened his lead throughout the five furlongs on the turf as he ran through opening fractions of :22.44 and :44:35. The 6-5 favorite, Eddie Haskell, winner of three straight races including the May 25 Daytona Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park, was second early before two-time Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) victor Stormy Liberal edged a length in front.
Though the two behind Mr Vargas entered the Green Flash with more experience, the 5-year-old Midshipman gelding finished 2 1/4 lengths ahead, hitting the wire in :56.15 on firm turf.
"We California Flagged 'em," Talamo said, referencing the Koriner trainee he rode to victories in the 2009 Green Flash and Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. California Flag won the Green Flash again in 2010 under Mike Smith.
"The plan was to get him out there and make the lead. He did his part," Talamo continued. "He got a little breather when I dropped over at the (half-mile pole) and again on the turn, but otherwise he was running hard all the way. When they came for him, he just went on. I was afraid they were going to be closing on us, so I went for it and he responded very well. He's a really nice horse."
Eddie Haskell edged Stormy Liberal by half a length for second. The reigning champion turf male, who has yet to win in four starts since the Breeders' Cup, came home third after winning the Green Flash a year ago.
"He ran good. I think this race will serve him well on down the line," jockey Drayden Van Dyke said of Stormy Liberal.
Undrafted, Calexman, and Shades of Victory completed the order of finish.
Mr Vargas, off at odds of 3-1, won over the same course and distance last out when he took over early in a July 21 allowance optional claimer to win by 2 1/4 lengths in :55.86.
From 11 starts, the chestnut has a 4-3-2 record with $198,185 in earnings.
Mr Vargas was bred in Florida by Carl Johnson and Martha Johnson. He is the second foal out of the Put It Back mare Play It Back, who foaled a full brother to Mr Vargas in 2018.
Fighting Mad Gives Talamo Second Stakes Win Saturday
Talamo scored his second stakes win of the night at Del Mar aboard Gary and Mary West's Fighting Mad when the New Year's Day filly led every step of the $100,702 Torrey Pines Stakes (G3).
The Torrey Pines, run at a mile on the main track, was the first start beyond six furlongs for Fighting Mad.
"We were hoping she could get a mile," Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said. "I've been taking my time with her, but the way she's been working and the way she's showed she loved this track, we were hoping it would turn out the way it did."
The 3-year-old filly maintained at least a length advantage throughout the Torrey Pines as she set fractions of :23.29, :46.98, and 1:11.98 from a bit off the rail. Talamo had the filly under a hold late as she cruised to an eight-length victory, hitting the wire in 1:38.61 on a fast main track.
"The plan was to go for (the lead)," Talamo said. "She was running easy out there. She ran great."
Hollywood Hills rallied from last of seven to finish second ahead of Into Chocolate. Kim K, High Regard, Sneaking Out, and Classic Fit completed the order of finish.
The Torrey Pines was the second stakes attempt for Fighting Mad, who finished seventh in the May 17 Adena Springs Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) at Pimlico Race Course two starts back. That effort followed an allowance victory at Churchill Downs in late April and a single start at 2 as a debut winner during Del Mar's fall meet.
Following the Miss Preakness, Fighting Mad improved to be second, beaten three-quarters of a length, sprinting six furlongs at Del Mar July 19. She has a 3-1-0 record from five starts and earnings of $168,008.
Fighting Mad was bred in Kentucky by the Wests out of the Forestry mare Smokey's Love. All four foals out of Smokey's Love to race are winners, and she last produced the Australian-bred Tapit colt Love Tap in 2017.
Video: Green Flash H. (G3T)