Red King Levels Up in Del Mar Handicap
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Red King wins the Del Mar Handicap at Del Mar
Red King kept his win streak alive and continued his upward progression Aug. 22 with a win over odds-on favorite United in the $203,000 Del Mar Handicap Presented by The Japan Racing Association (G2T) at Del Mar.
The 6-year-old son of English Channel made a powerful early move under Umberto Rispoli up the backstretch in the 1 3/8-mile event, charging into contention at the three-eighths pole en route to his first grade 2 victory. It was his third consecutive victory for trainer Phil D'Amato, on the heels of a June 21 San Juan Capistrano Stakes (G3T) score that came after a May 24 win at the allowance level. D'Amato has won the Del Mar Handicap four years in a row and six times in the past seven years.
After tracking eighth behind tepid early fractions of :25.07, :49.94, and 1:15.09, Red King moved quickly on the outside past the half-mile pole to get the jump on United, who was saving ground in fifth on the rail. Red King ranged up into second as a mile went in 1:40.07, then took command from tiring frontrunner North County Guy, who had battled for the early lead with Big Buzz.
United, who went off at odds of 7-10, missed the score by a head. Originaire was half a length back in third.
"I didn't like how slow they were going, so I decided to move earlier today," Rispoli said. "It takes a really good horse to do that, but I knew he had the stamina. I did this when I was riding in Europe. It was close at the finish because he was trying to pull himself up. I am very happy. This horse gave me a grade 3 win in his last start, and today he gave me a grade 2. I want to keep it going with him."
Campaigned by Little Red Feather Racing, Gordon Jacobsen, and Philip Belmonte, Red King raced the demanding distance in 2:15.75 on a course rated firm and paid $10.60 on a $2 win ticket at 4-1 odds. He improved his record to 7-4-7 from 28 starts with earnings of $398,115.
Bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm, Red King is the ninth foal out of the A.P. Indy mare Youre Speeding Luv, who produced nine winners from nine starters. The mare's last reported foal was born in 2017. Red King is her most accomplished runner and only graded winner.
The Del Mar Handicap is a Breeders' Cup Challenge event, assuring the winner an automatic berth in the Nov. 7 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Keeneland.
"I could see going along the backstretch that Flavien (Prat on United) was on the inside and Umberto (Rispoli) was about to make that move on the outside," D'Amato said. "(Rispoli) timed it perfectly. I give all credit to him. After the last race, he was so high on this horse. He chose Red King over Originaire, and that gave me a lot of confidence that he felt the horse was climbing up the ladder, and to win this race is really special."