Weston, Spielberg Duel in Bob Hope Stakes at Del Mar
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Weston is the lone graded winner in the Bob Hope Stakes at Del Mar
After scratching from the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park Sept. 26 due to a brief colic episode, Weston returns to action against Spielberg and four other 2-year-olds in the $100,000 Bob Hope Stakes (G3) Nov. 15 at Del Mar.
Although not the fastest entrant on speed figures, Weston is the richest, earning $150,000 by winning two of three starts, including the Aug. 8 Best Pal Stakes (G2) at Del Mar. That followed a debut maiden score at Santa Anita Park June 21 and preceded a third-place finish in the Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1).
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Those efforts have left his co-owners, Chris Drakos and trainer Ryan Hanson, in the black. The gelded son of Hit It a Bomb was a $7,000 purchase at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Kentucky-based horseman John O'Meara for Drakos. The yearling slipped past buyers late in the sale as Hip 4086 as part of the Dromoland Farm consignment.
"First-year sire, buried in the back of the book," Hanson said. "John O'Meara does a good job buying horses for Chris."
The relationship has been rewarding for Hanson, too. He has taken pieces in ownership of the yearlings O'Meara has purchased for Drakos, and Weston provided Hanson with his first graded stakes-winning Thoroughbred after the young trainer made the transition from Quarter Horses.
The seven-furlong Bob Hope could be just the start of something bigger. The race regularly serves as a launching pad into the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), run each year in December.
Since the race moved to the Orange County oval in 2014 after the closure of Hollywood Park, the winner of the Bob Hope has returned in all but one year in the Los Alamitos Futurity. The 2016 Bob Hope victor, Mastery , repeated in the 1 1/16-mile Los Alamitos Futurity, and three other Bob Hope winners were second.
"This should put quite a bit into him, the seven-furlong, one turn," Hanson said. "Hopefully sets him up to go two turns next time."
Drayden Van Dyke rides.
Spielberg, who finished in front of Weston when second in the Del Mar Futurity, is the likely favorite.
His trainer, Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, has won the Bob Hope 10 times, all since 1996. Baffert has trained four of the past five winners, including High Velocity last year.
Like Weston, Spielberg went through the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, though he was miles away in price, a $1 million purchase from the Lane's End consignment. He races for SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Golconda Stables, Siena Farm, and Robert Masterson.
SF Bloodstock's Tom Ryan, Baffert, and bloodstock agent Donato Lanni were among those on hand at Keeneland to buy him for the group last year.
The son of Union Rags ran third in the American Pharoah as a maiden before returning to pick up a victory against maiden special weight opposition going a mile Nov. 1 at Del Mar under Abel Cedillo.
"He came out of the last one very well and the seven-eighths should be OK for him," Baffert said. "And he runs well at Del Mar."
Ambivalent, Coastal Kid, Red Flag, and Uncle Boogie complete the field. Ambivalent sheds blinkers, and Coastal Kid adds the equipment.
The latter appeared on his way to victory in the Gottstein Futurity at Emerald Downs Oct. 1 before veering out sharply in midstretch, nearly unseating his rider. In front with a furlong to run, he settled for third, beaten 13 1/2 lengths.
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Del Mar, Sunday, November 15, 2020, Race 8Entries: Bob Hope S. (G3)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Ambivalent (KY)
Mario Gutierrez
120
Doug F. O'Neill
7/2
2
2Spielberg (KY)
Abel Cedillo
120
Bob Baffert
6/5
3
3Weston (KY)
Drayden Van Dyke
124
Ryan Hanson
3/1
4
4Coastal Kid (WA)
Tyler Baze
120
Jeffrey Metz
15/1
5
5Red Flag (KY)
Victor Espinoza
120
John A. Shirreffs
6/1
6
6Uncle Boogie (FL)
Flavien Prat
120
Andrew Lerner
5/1
