Bob Hill
Staff writer
Tracksideview.com

DEL MAR, Calif. – Del Mar race track justifiably lays claim to being situated in as beautiful a setting as any such venue anywhere.  The famous Mediterranean climate of San Diego County is normally a second ingredient to making a trip to Del Mar spectacular during August. 

The setting is quite unchangeable, but on my annual visit to Del Mar this past weekend I discovered that the coastline can be smothered in layers of clouds and fog.  The absence of the sun, in tandem with an ocean breeze, can make for chilly temperatures.  As cool as it was for guys like me, it was even worse for the ladies adorned in sun dresses and coordinated hats anytime they ventured outside the Turf Club.  Despite the cool weather, however, all of us were treated to two scintillating racing performances.

Sidney’s Candy wins the La Jolla

In the build up to the Kentucky Derby this year I came to like Sidney’s Candy a great deal.  On the track during Derby week he looked fit and ready for the challenge that lay ahead.  Unfortunately, the colt’s connections drew the far outside post position.  When the gates opened, jockey Joe Talamo raced down the long Churchill Downs straight away in order to make the lead.  Sidney’s Candy ran as fast as he could for as long as he could, but he ran out of gas more than four furlongs from the finish line.  Heading into the Grade 2 La Jolla on Aug. 14, the son of Candy Ride had raced only once since the Derby meltdown, caught in the last jump of the Grade 2 Swaps.  Some of his backers began to question just how good he is, but all of that nonsense was laid to rest in the La Jolla.

In his first start on turf, Sidney’s Candy broke sharply and made the lead despite trainer John Sadler’s insistence that the colt could and would be rated.  Macias aided in making the pace rapid by pressing the leader for the opening six furlongs as the two opened a lead of 12 lengths down the backstretch.  Macias was cooked as the pair headed into the final turn, but Sidney’s Candy was not.  The winner’s fractions included splits of 23.10, 22.71, 23.10, and 24.18 seconds for the first mile of the race in an elapsed time of 1:33.09.  He then completed the final sixteenth in 6.43 seconds and stopped the clock in a track record on the Del Mar turf for 8½ furlongs in a time of 1:39.52.

Needless to say, Sidney’s Candy passed the test on turf.  If his connections are looking for a Breeders’ Cup race for him they may have found it at a mile on the grass.  Time will tell.

Wasted Tears Wins the John C. Mabee

On Sunday the fillies and mares took the turf in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee.  Wasted Tears came into the race having won her six previous turf races.  A confirmed front runner, Wasted Tears went to the lead and stayed there, beating the fast-closing Lilly Fa Pootz in a photo finish.  Her splits nearly rival those of Sidney’s Candy from the previous day – 23.78, 24.31, 24.02, 23.56 seconds for a mile in 1:35.57.  She then ran the final furlong in an amazing 11.68 seconds in route to a final time of 1:47.35.  No one should question the grit and determination of this one.

Royal F J Perseveres

One other race is worthy of note from the weekend.  On Sunday afternoon, a field of maidens went to post to compete at one mile on turf.  Royal F J entered the race with one of the most interesting lifetime records any handicapper has ever seen.  A year ago he made his first start sprinting on the Polytrack at Del Mar.  He finished sixth.  Since then he started nine additional times routing on turf.  He finished second in seven of those nine races and third in the other two – nine straight maiden races in the money without a win.  On Sunday, Royal F J finally broke his maiden in convincing fashion, closing on the leaders down the stretch in route to a 3¼- length victory.  Even though I had not key my tickets on him I must say that I cheered for him and his connections.

Del Mar proved to be a hard place to cash winning tickets this weekend, but as usual the racing was very competitive.  The venue is as gorgeous as advertised, and even the cool and breezy weather did not dampen spirits – especially on Sunday when I was smart enough to wear a sweater!