Ride a Comet Blazes to Victory in Del Mar Derby
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Photo: BENOIT PHOTO
Ride a Comet wins the Del Mar Derby
Eastern invader Ride a Comet, third in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course a month ago, made an auspicious West Coast debut Sept. 2 with an impressive, come-from-behind victory in the $250,000 Del Mar Derby (G2T) at Del Mar.
With leading rider Drayden Van Dyke in the saddle, Ride a Comet surged between horses entering the stretch, overhauled even-money favorite River Boyne in the final furlong, and pulled away convincingly to win by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:48.11 for the nine furlongs over the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course.
Kazan, a 50-1 longshot, rallied belatedly to shade La Jolla Handicap (G3T) winner River Boyne by a half-length for the runner-up spot. Majestic Eagle was fourth in the field of a dozen 3-year-olds. In an unusual occurrence, Animosity was declared a non-starter by the board of stewards, ruling that the filly was impeded from breaking cleanly from the gate.
"They told me he was real classy and that he had a nice kick. That was all I knew (about him)," said Van Dyke. "He warmed up real well and gave me confidence. During the race, it all came up perfect. Good trip all the way. When I swung him out, he gave me a big kick. I knew right then we were going to win it."
Ride a Comet, owned by John Oxley and My Meadowview Farm and trained by Mark Casse, is a son of Candy Ride bred in Kentucky out of the Successful Appeal mare Appealing Zophie. Sent off at odds of 5-1, he returned $13.60, $7, and $4. Second-place Kazan paid $38.20 and $12.60, and River Boyne returned $2.40 to show.
The win was the fifth in 10 outings for the bay colt and improved his earnings to $305,856.
Ride a Comet was Van Dyke's third winner of the afternoon as he opened a three-victory margin on Flavien Prat, 40-37, going into Monday's 36th and final day of the Del Mar summer season. Prat had a double Sunday.
Van Dyke apparently escaped injury in a 10th-race mishap when his mount, Toshio, swerved badly in midstretch, unseating the rider. Van Dyke was examined at track first aid and released, and he reportedly will ride Monday.
"This is stressful (his battle with Prat for the Del Mar jockey title)," said Van Dyke. "But I try not to pay too much attention to it. I just keep on riding the best I can."