(Edited Del Mar Thoroughbred Club report)

DEL MAR, Calif. – In one of the most exciting races of the summer season, R.D. Hubbard’s Spring House successfully defended his title in the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap with a nose victory over longshot Sir Dave Sunday.

Spring House, with Alex Solis in the saddle, was far back in the pack in the early stages of the marathon mile and three-eighths race over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course as Ghetto and Black Astor set a suicidal pace.

The 8-1 Temple City, who had stalked the pacesetters under Michael Baze, turned for home with a clear lead, but then was confronted by Sir Dave and jockey Joel Rosario who appeared home free until nailed in the final jump by Spring House.

With the first four horses separated by less than a length, Temple City was three-quarters of a length behind the runner-up, nosing out 9-5 favored Artiste Royal for third money in the field of ten older Thoroughbreds.

A year ago, Spring House, a seven-year-old son of Chester House trained by Julio Canani, prevailed by 1 1/2 lengths, setting a course record of 2:11.14. His time Sunday was 2:12.61 as he earned the winner’s prize of $150,000 with his tenth win in 43 lifetime outings and became a millionaire in the process at $1,121,284.

As second choice in the betting at 5-2, Spring House returned $7.60, $4.60 and $3.80. Sir Dave, who went postward at 11-1, paid $10 and $5.80, while Temple City returned $5.40 to show.

Since the Del Mar Handicap is a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Santa Anita, Spring House again earned a spot in the race in which he was ninth a year ago to eventual Eclipse Award winner Conduit.

Rafael Bejarano, who returned to action Friday after recovering from serious injuries sustained in a spill opening day, July 22, booted in two winners, Cigar Man in the fourth and Dream Now in the fifth.

With no perfect tickets in the Pick Six, there will be a carryover of $168,634 Wednesday when post time for the first of nine races will be 2 p.m.

Sunday’s attendance was 13,031.