Dr. Schivel Sprints Home to Win Del Mar Futurity
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Dr. Schivel wins the Del Mar Futurity at Del Mar
The doctor is most definitely in.
Two-year-old Dr. Schivel stepped up in a big way Sept. 7 for his ownership partnership of Red Baron's Barn, Rancho Temescal, William Branch, and William Dean Reeves. The Violence colt, who broke his maiden 30 days ago at Del Mar, pulled off a hard-fought victory in the $250,500 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1) at the California track.
Despite having only six horses in the gate, there was trouble at the break when Dixie's Two Stents and Scooby both ducked in and collided briefly. In an attempt to recover, jockey Umberto Rispoli pulled Scooby back to allow Dixie's Two Stents room. Dyn O Mite took advantage of the incident to get up for fourth behind the trio of front runners comprised of Dr. Schivel, Weston, and Spielberg.
Spielberg, guided by Abel Cedillo on the rail, set early fractions of :22.49 and :45.14 for the half-mile while running just a head in front of Dr. Schivel and Weston, who traded places along the backstretch for second and third.
Pressing his rivals along the backstretch, Dr. Schivel, ridden by Flavien Prat, waited until the front half of the field reached the top of the turn before surging forward. The colt was a half-length ahead of Spielberg at the top of the stretch and was angled in by Prat to duel more closely with the leader.
Dr. Schivel and Spielberg, who would not be had so easily, ran neck-and-neck for precious seconds and Spielberg fought to hold onto his lead. But in the end Spielberg's efforts were not enough and Dr. Schivel pulled away to win, crossing the wire 1 3/4 lengths clear. Final time for the seven-furlongs on the fast track was 1:24.16.
Spielberg took second 3 3/4 lengths in front of Weston in third. Scooby, Dyn O Mite, and Dixie's Two Stents completed the order of finish.
"He broke well, then he got a little aggressive on me," said Prat. "I tried to give him a little breather on the turn, then when I asked him he was a runner. He's a nice colt."
The Del Mar Futurity marked the 50th win of the 27-day meet for Prat. The win gave the 28-year-old Frenchmen his fifth Del Mar riding title after a fierce, season-long battle with the Italian newcomer Rispoli, who finished one behind with 49.
Jockey Flavien Prat guides Dr. Schivel to the winner's circle after their Del Mar Futurity victory
"Well," Prat said, "if that's how I win the riding title, then that's great. At least now I know I can't get beat. However it turns out, it was good competition. (Rispoli) is a real competitor and an excellent rider. It was great to go against him."
Trained by Luis Mendez, Dr. Schivel broke his maiden on third asking Aug. 8 at Del Mar defeating Del Mar Futurity runner-up Spielberg by 5 3/4 lengths. The colt has a 2-1-1 record from four starts with increased earnings of $197,000.
"I loved the way he was moving (down the backstretch); he looked comfortable," said Mendez. "And around the turn it looked like he had a lot of horse so I felt really good. And he got it done. I'm very proud of myself and the team for what we've done getting him to win this race."
Bred in Kentucky by co-owner Branch and Arnold Hill, Dr. Schivel is the only stakes winner for his dam, the Mining for Money mare Lil Nugget. He was offered to the 2019 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale by Hidden Brook but RNA'd on a final bid of $37,000.