Dirt Returns, Wagering Up for Del Mar Opener
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The racing debut of Del Mar’s new dirt track went off without a hitch July 16, with a crowd of 40,304 packed in to watch the 10-race card.
Attendance was slightly down from 42,021 for last year’s edition, but all-sources handle was up 2.6% (just more than $15.2 million) largely because of a surge in off-track wagering. On-track wagering was down 7.1% (just more than $3.9 million).
But the real focus when the races finished was the performance of the dirt main track, which replaced the synthetic surface used since 2007.
“The same number started and the same number finished, so we couldn’t be happier with the way that (went),” said Del Mar president Joe Harper. “But the secret to a good track is to see how it looks after a couple weeks and after 2,000 horses have been on it every morning.”
The jockey colony also spoke highly of the dirt course.
“The track is incredible,” Hall of Fame rider Kent Desormeaux said. “It’s so good, I hope all of them make (their tracks) whatever that one is made of, across the country. You couldn’t even feel them hitting the ground. It’s soft, like running over cotton balls.”
“It feels great,” added jockey Joe Talamo, who wrapped up opening day with two wins, which matched Drayden Van Dyke and Tyler Baze’s total. “Trust me, I wasn’t a big fan of the synthetic, so this track is unbelievable… It’s a little bit softer and it’s pretty new, so I think it’s going to get even better, to be honest.”
Jeffrey Bloom’s Soul Driver won the day’s feature—the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes going a mile over the turf course—with Mike Smith aboard, going last-to-first to outduel front-runner Forest Blue by a nose. It was Smith’s 51st stakes win at Del Mar.
The Jeff Mullins trainee, a son of Street Boss , won his second straight stakes and went off at 5-2, paying $7.80, $4.60, and $3 across the board. Heavily-favored Papacoolpapacool was four lengths back in fifth place.
“Up until his last two races, he had terrible, terrible trips,” Mullins said. “Every time he got in trouble… I think he’ll get better and I think he’ll run all day.”
Of a variety of stars in attendance, Caitlyn Jenner drew the most attention and even cashed a winning ticket.
“I just walked out with her and she said she had a winner—in the seventh race,” Harper said. “She was happy. I hope she comes back. Bring the kids.”