Motorious Flies Late for Second Green Flash Triumph
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Motorious wins the Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar
Fans who attended both the 2023 and 2024 Pacific Classic Day cards must have been feeling déjà vu Aug. 31 as they saw not one, but two repeat winners out of the barn of trainer Phil D'Amato at Del Mar.
Just a few races after Gold Phoenix three-peated in the Del Mar Handicap (G2T), it was Motorious who would go back-to-back in the $152,500 Green Flash Handicap (G3T).
Ridden by Antonio Fresu, the 6-year-old gelding entered the stretch ninth of 10, but was set up for a strong rally by fractions of :21.77 and :44.38. Motorious finished with a flourish to outfinish Johnny Podres , who was closing from last, by three-quarters of a length while completing five furlongs in :56.14.
Motorious paid $6.60 to win. No Nay Hudson finished third.
The win provided a sigh of relief for D'Amato and owner Anthony Fanticola as their Muhaarar gelding had been off the board in both starts this year. D'Amato credited the Del Mar grass he now holds a 3-for-3 record over.
"He didn't get things his own way starting off this year," D'Amato said. "He came back to a turf course he really likes, got a nice setup, and showed what he can do."
D'Amato said he believes his horse gets a better grip over the Del Mar turf, which is great news for him and bad news for his competition as the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) will be contested at Del Mar Nov. 2. With his victory, Motorious holds an automatic berth to the championship event through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.
Video: Green Flash H. (G3T)
Baffert Earns Eighth Torrey Pines Victory, Completes Exacta
Five races earlier in the card, trainer Bob Baffert again flashed his dominance in graded dirt races for 3-year-olds as his trainees completed the exacta in the $150,500 Torrey Pines Stakes (G3).
Hope Road wins the Torrey Pines Stakes
Hope Road would be the impressive victor, finishing five lengths ahead of stablemate Nothing Like You , with Grand Slam Smile another six lengths back in third.
The dominant victory was set up by a blistering pace set by Soho , who surrendered early entering the far turn after fractions of :21.70 and :45.31.
Positioned as the first to inherit the lead, jockey Juan Hernandez got the jump on his competition and kicked away down the lane.
"She is a really smart and sharp filly ... Today I was just the pilot," said Hernandez. "She is really quick, but she settled down really well today behind the pace."
The bay filly stopped the clock for one mile in 1:36.15 while paying $3.00 to win.
A perfect 3-for-3 this summer following a long layoff since finishing 11th in last year's Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1), Hope Road appears a rising star for Baffert and Cicero Farms, who own and bred the daughter of Quality Road .
"I knew there was a lot of speed in the race," Baffert said. "You don't know until they do it, but at the three-eighths pole I thought she'll get it."