Jerry Hollendorfer Holds Strong Hand at Del Mar

The first week of racing at Del Mar is over, and one set of connections could have the top three juveniles on the grounds.

Standing on the balcony of his barn, which overlooks the Del Mar backstretch, Jerry Hollendorfer's smile July 22 revealed just how well his string has performed at the seaside racetrack, and he has more to come.

He and Larry Best's OXO Equine have three 2-year-old debut winners in the barn. The most recent was Rowayton, who won by 1 3/4 lengths over Hollendorfer stablemate Dueling July 21, and the most eye-catching was Instagrand, who crushed a maiden special weight field by 10 lengths at Los Alamitos Race Course June 29. Both are by Into Mischief . Instagrand will make his next start in the Aug. 11 Best Pal Stakes (G2) at Del Mar, and Rowayton's next start has yet to be determined.

"I'm not trying to compare them," the Hall of Fame trainer said. "Both horses are talented. One may be faster than the other one, but we're not quite sure about all the facts yet."

Brill, a Medaglia d'Oro  filly who won by 1 1/4 lengths July 18, might end up being the best of the trio. In her better-than-it-looks-on-paper debut, Brill broke a bit slow, was never comfortable in the five-furlong sprint as two horses from the outside crossed in front of her, and jockey Drayden Van Dyke had to encourage her to get into the race in the turn. She also figures to improve at longer distances. Van Dyke rides all three of the OXO juveniles.

"We always knew we loved her a lot, and she worked really good and did everything we asked her to do," Hollendorfer said. "When we ran her, she broke so hard she slipped a little bit and got behind, but we think she's a very good prospect."

Instagrand was a $1.2 million purchase, and Brill hammered at $1 million. Rowayton was a relative bargain at $320,000. All were purchased by Best at auction.

"The guy has done a remarkable job, considering he picks his own horses and hasn't been around the game for that long," Hollendorfer said.

Hollendorfer has won seven of his 17 starts at Del Mar through Sunday (with four seconds), and Don Alberto Stable's multiple grade 1 winner Unique Bella is primed and ready for the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar July 29.

"Unique Bella had a great work (July 19), and we're going to gallop her into the race," Hollendorfer said. "I'm not going to blow her out this week. She's doing really well, and we think she'll run well."