French Imports Face Laura's Light in Del Mar Oaks

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French Imports Face Laura's Light in Del Mar Oaks
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Laura's Light after winning the San Clemente Stakes at Del Mar

The $250,000 Del Mar Oaks (G1T) has a distinctly French flavor this year. Although Kentucky-bred Laura's Light, a four-time stakes-winning daughter of Constitution , is a deserving headliner in the Aug. 22 grass contest, three of her leading foes are French-breds.

That includes two, Miss Extra and Neige Blanche, making their first starts in America in the 1 1/8-mile turf race.

Hall of Famer Richard Mandella takes over the training of Miss Extra, who captured the Prix de Sandringham (G2) at Chantilly in June, while trainer Leonard Powell runs Neige Blanche, winner of the Prix Cleopatre (G3) at Lyon-Parilly. Powell also runs Guitty, who came to the United States last summer and last out rallied to be the runner-up behind Laura's Light in the San Clemente Stakes (G2T) at Del Mar July 25, beaten three-quarters of a length.  

Video: San Clemente S. (G2T)



Powell is also a native of France, where he was an amateur jockey initially and later rode in steeplechase races. He has trained in the U.S. since 2003, winning graded stakes with Niagara Causeway, Beach View, and Fatale Bere. The latter won the 2018 Del Mar Oaks in her crowning achievement.

"That's what we wake up every day for," he said of the dreams of major stakes success.

Neige Blanche and Guitty give him two strong chances Saturday. Both have shown promise, though Guitty went through a dull period for a series of races after initially winning her first two starts in America after being imported.

"During the winter, she couldn't get a very good trip. She got a bit rank. One race she moved too late. One race moved too early," he said. "And then the last race she moved at the right time and she ran a good second. She showed us what she can do and what she's shown us in the mornings. That was a big relief that last time she ran a good race and ran to her potential."

Juan Hernandez rides the 3-year-old daughter of Dunkerque, who is owned by Benowitz Family Trust, Madaket Stables, M. Mathiesen, and M. Powell.

Sol Kumin's Madaket Stables also co-owns Neige Blanche, a daughter of Anodin, with partners Laura De Seroux, Marsha Naify, and Mathilde Powell.

"We put a partnership together to buy her after her last race. She showed a really good turn of foot to win a grade 3," trainer Powell said. "She's been here six or seven weeks now and has done everything well. She's acclimated very well. She's sweet and sound."

Flavien Prat—who, with eight stakes victories at the current meet, is chasing Rafael Bejarano's 2012 record of 13 meet stakes wins—is booked to ride.

The presence of numerous frontrunners should ensure legitimate fractions, though pace has not affected the tactical Laura's Light yet. She has won on the lead or from just off the pace, behind fast or on top of moderate splits, recording five victories from seven starts. Besides the San Clemente, she won the Blue Norther, Honeymoon (G3T), and Sweet Life (G3T) stakes for owner Gary Barber and trainer Peter Miller.

Abel Cedillo, up for all four of her stakes victories, returns in the irons.

Also worthy of respect is Warren's Showtime, who picks up Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who worked her five furlongs in 1:00 before the day's races at Del Mar Aug. 14. Farther off the pace than usual in the San Clemente, she rallied for third.

Craig Lewis trains the homebred daughter of Clubhouse Ride for owners Benjamin and Sally Warren.


Entries: Del Mar Oaks (G1T)

Del Mar, Saturday, August 22, 2020, Race 9

  • Grade IT
  • 1 1/8m
  • Turf
  • $250,000
  • 3 yo Fillies
  • 6:06 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Carpe Vinum (KY) Aaron T. Gryder 122 Philip D'Amato 15/1
2 2California Kook (CA) Ricardo Gonzalez 122 Peter Miller 15/1
3 3Miss Extra (FR) UMBERTO RISPOLI 122 Richard E. Mandella 9/2
4 4Warren's Showtime (CA) Mike E. Smith 122 Craig Anthony Lewis 6/1
5 5Aqua Seaform Shame (FL)Keeneland Sales Graduate Ruben Fuentes 122 Richard Baltas 12/1
98 6Trickle In (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate SCRATCHED 0 UNKNOWN -
6 7Red Lark (IRE) Drayden Van Dyke 122 Patrick Gallagher 12/1
7 8Neige Blanche (FR) Flavien Prat 122 Leonard Powell 5/1
8 9Parkour (KY) Geovanni Franco 122 Richard E. Mandella 15/1
9 10Laura's Light (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Abel Cedillo 122 Peter Miller 3/1
10 11Guitty (FR) Juan J. Hernandez 122 Leonard Powell 8/1