Master Piece Looks for More in Del Mar Handicap

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Master Piece Looks for More in Del Mar Handicap
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Master Piece takes the Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar

The last race on most race cards is typically one of the deepest, a competitive race that gives bettors a chance to collect rewarding exotic payoffs on their way out the door. Often such races feature claimers or maidens, but occasionally, a high-end race on the grass lands in the mix.

One such occasion occurs Sept. 3 on Pacific Classic Day at Del Mar when a field of 11 races in the nightcap in the Del Mar Handicap Presented by The Japan Racing Association (G2T). Beyond the $300,000 purse of the race, also on the line is a paid, automatic berth in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) Nov. 5 at Keeneland. The race is part of the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" Challenge Series.

Typical of a race card finale, contention runs deep. There is no clear standout, with Heywoods Beach , Master Piece , Masteroffoxhounds , Red King , and Tizamagician  being five of the contenders. All enter the race with question marks to a degree.

Heywoods Beach and Tizamagician move from dirt to turf; Master Piece comes off a win in the Eddie Read Stakes (G2T) but is just 2-for-10 since 2020; Masteroffoxhounds comes off a disappointing effort when fifth in the Eddie Read; and Red King is 8 years old and winless in four starts this year.

Working in Master Piece's favor is an apparent fondness for racing over the Del Mar turf course. Besides winning the Eddie Read, he was second in the 2021 Del Mar Handicap.

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In four starts since August 2021, the gray ridgling by Mastercraftsman  has raced for trainer Michael McCarthy in California.

Abel Cedillo has the mount for owners Fernando Diaz-Valdes, Baalbek Corp., and Don Alberto Stable. Master Piece carries 123 pounds, co-high weight with Tizamagician in the field.

Trainer Phil D'Amato starts four horses: the aforementioned Masteroffoxhounds and Red King, plus Gold Phoenix  and Gregdar . 

Philip Belmonte and Gordon Jacobsen's Red King gave D'Amato his sixth win in the Del Mar Handicap two years ago. All of D'Amato's victories in the three-turn turf race have come since 2014.

Four races before the Del Mar Handicap, D'Amato holds another potential winning hand in the $300,000 Del Mar Mile (G2T), even without entering his star turf miler Count Again .

His trainees, Hong Kong Harry  and Cathkin Peak —2-3 behind Master Piece in the 1 1/8-mile Eddie Read—cut back a furlong for the Del Mar Mile. 

Tripoli  and comebacking Astronaut  lead the opposition. Both starred on Pacific Classic Day in 2021 with Tripoli upsetting the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) and Astronaut taking the Del Mar Handicap.

The Del Mar Mile is not a Breeders' Cup WAYI qualifier.


Entries: Del Mar Mile S. (G2T)

Del Mar, Saturday, September 03, 2022, Race 7

  • Grade IIT
  • 1m
  • Turf
  • $300,000
  • 3 yo's & up
  • 4:10 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Air Force Red (KY) John R. Velazquez 122 Leonard Powell 10/1
2 2Tarantino (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Mike E. Smith 122 Ed Moger, Jr. 15/1
3 3Irideo (ARG) Hector Isaac Berrios 122 Marcelo Polanco 5/1
4 4None Above the Law (CA) Joe Bravo 122 Peter Miller 6/1
5 5Hong Kong Harry (IRE) Flavien Prat 122 Philip D'Amato 3/1
6 6Goliad (KY) Juan J. Hernandez 122 Richard E. Mandella 5/1
7 7Cathkin Peak (IRE) Umberto Rispoli 122 Philip D'Amato 4/1
8 8Figureti (CHI) Abel Cedillo 124 Amador Merei Sanchez 20/1
9 9Tripoli (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Tiago Josue Pereira 124 John W. Sadler 8/1
10 10Astronaut (KY) Victor Espinoza 122 John A. Shirreffs 12/1


Entries: Del Mar H. Presented by The Japan Racing Association (G2T)

Del Mar, Saturday, September 03, 2022, Race 11

  • Grade IIT
  • 1 3/8m
  • Turf
  • $300,000
  • 3 yo's & up
  • 6:20 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Dicey Mo Chara (GB) John R. Velazquez 119 Leonard Powell 15/1
2 2Gold Phoenix (IRE) Flavien Prat 118 Philip D'Amato 6/1
3 3Gregdar (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Umberto Rispoli 119 Philip D'Amato 5/1
4 4Red King (KY) Hector Isaac Berrios 118 Philip D'Amato 8/1
5 5Tango Tango Tango (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Declan Cannon 119 Jack Sisterson 20/1
6 6Tizamagician (KY) Mike E. Smith 123 Richard E. Mandella 4/1
7 7Order and Law (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Edwin A. Maldonado 117 Robert B. Hess, Jr. 30/1
8 8Tesoro (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Joe Bravo 117 O. J. Jauregui 20/1
9 9Master Piece (CHI) Abel Cedillo 123 Michael W. McCarthy 3/1
10 10Masteroffoxhounds (KY) Juan J. Hernandez 120 Philip D'Amato 6/1
11 11Heywoods Beach (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Ramon A. Vazquez 121 John W. Sadler 8/1