Lieutenant Dan Dominates Del Mar's Green Flash Stakes

Multiple-stakes winner Lieutenant Dan  overcame a 10-month layoff and post 9 to cruise to victory in the $152,500 Green Flash Stakes (G3T) Sept. 4 at Del Mar.

The California-bred stalked pacesetter Dubai Key  until the leader drifted out two paths in the upper stretch. Juan Hernandez sent the 4-5 favorite through the hole, and they took the lead inside the eighth pole and drew off by 1 1/4 lengths over 9-1 shot Lane Way . Coulthard  was third, a head farther back.

It was Lieutenant Dan's first start for trainer Steve Miyadi since he ran second in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1T) at Del Mar, and he earned an automatic berth in this year's renewal at Keeneland. He ran 5 furlongs on a firm course in :55.87 after chasing fractions of :21.77 and :44.54. He paid $3.80 and improved his career record to 9-for-18 with his third graded stakes win in the past year. That streak began with the 2021 Green Flash.

The remarkably consistent bay gelding has finished worse than third only once, and he's 9-for-9 in the money on the grass. He earned $90,000 to raise his total to $923,740 for owner-breeder Nick Alexander.  

The son of California sire Grazen is out of Excusabull, a daughter of Indian Charlie. Grazen has sired 16 stakes winners, while Lieutenant Dan is Excusabull's only stakes winner out of eight foals to race.

Midnight Memories Takes Torrey Pines Stakes

Midnight Memories , a 3-year-old daughter of Mastery, entered her race Sunday coming off her lone defeat in her young career. The Bob Baffert trainee wasn't about to even out her record. 

Getting out of the gate quickly, Midnight Memories led from start to finish but not before fending off a game challenger to take home the $125,000 Torrey Pines Stakes (G2) at Del Mar. 

She finished the mile race for 3-year-old fillies in 1:36.32. She posted fractions of  :23.25, :46.95, 1:11.23, and 1:23.63.

Midnight Memories jumped out to the early lead, getting clear of her five competitors and moving along the rail. With Ramon Vazquez aboard, Midnight Memories kept the field at bay as they approached the half-mile pole. However, Desert Dawn  and Umberto Rispoli never allowed the leader to get too far out of reach, stalking from a length back. 

At the three-eighths pole, Rispoli maneuvered outside, urging his mount forward, closing the gap to a head. As they turned down the stretch, the race had turned into a two-filly battle. But Midnight Memories had more in reserve and outlasted Desert Dawn by three-quarters of a length. 

Out of Tiz Midnight, by Midnight Lute, Midnight Memories improved to 3-0-1 in four starts. She also earned the lion's share of her career winnings Sunday, an amount that stands at $166,680.

The Michael Pegram, Paul Weitman, and Karl Watson homebred returned $13 on a $2 bet. Desert Dawn; Grace Adler , another Baffert trainee; and Cinnamon Cat  rounded out the top three.

Video: Green Flash H. (G3T)