Midcourt Makes the Grade in Native Diver
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Midcourt wins the Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar
Jockey Victor Espinoza calls Midcourt a "unique animal" who likes to run his own way. No matter the gelding's hard-headed nature, that way is working.
Stepping into graded stakes for the first time Nov. 23 in the $98,000 Native Diver Stakes (G3) at Del Mar, the 4-year-old seized the initiative early and rolled by 5 3/4 lengths over Extra Hope—his fourth consecutive victory.
Compared to the son of Midnight Lute 's earlier races, the style he utilized Saturday looked little like his usual early placement. Never closer than fourth at the first call in his six previous starts, Midcourt landed in front heading into the first turn of the 1 1/8-mile Native Diver.
Midcourt apparently knew what he was doing. Following the scratches of Leading Score and Zestful, the race was sapped of some of its early speed, and Midcourt was able to waltz to the lead with fractions of :23.55, :47.61, and 1:11.54 while maintaining a length edge under token pressure from Extra Hope.
On the second turn, after letting Midcourt do his thing for the majority of the race, it was Espinoza's turn to ask his mount, and the horse responded. The winner opened a 3 1/2-length lead with a furlong to go and extended that advantage to the wire.
He finished in 1:48.36 on a fast track and paid $7.60 as the second favorite in the field of four.
"When I took the lead, I thought, 'That's it. It's over,'" Espinoza said. "He was doing it so easy, on his own. When I started riding and took control, it was going to be hard to catch him, and he ran an unbelievable race."
It was Espinoza's second Native Diver victory, following Prime Attraction's score in 2017. The rider has 102 stakes wins at Del Mar, third-most among jockeys.
Extra Hope, who chased throughout, held second by 1 1/4 lengths over third-place Two Thirty Five. Favored Roadster was last.
The latter showed none of the fight he displayed in winning the Santa Anita Derby (G1), tracking the leaders and simply failing to accelerate when asked by jockey Drayden Van Dyke. He finished 9 3/4 lengths behind the winner.
Espinoza praised trainer John Shirreffs for his work with Midcourt. Unplaced in his first two races before joining the trainer's barn, the gelding ran second in his first start for him in February before his winning streak.
"He's been training well, but there's always a step up they have to take in the afternoons. You hope there's a realization then," Shirreffs said.
The Native Diver was the second consecutive stakes win for Midcourt, who won the Comma to the Top Stakes last month at Santa Anita for owners Lee and Susan Searing, who race as C R K Stable. He is 4-for-7 with earnings of $198,695.
A $450,000 purchase from the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Mayberry Farm from the Four Star Sales consignment, Midcourt is the sixth winner, second stakes winner, and first graded stakes winter produced from the French Deputy mare Mayo On the Side.
Mayo On the Side won seven of 28 starts and earned $642,366. Her career was highlighted by a win in the Humana Distaff Handicap (G1) at Churchill Downs in 2004.