D’Amato © Benoit Photo
D’AMATO ON PACE TO THREATEN SEASON STAKES WIN RECORD
In 2000, the 60th summer season at Del Mar and the first of a new century, Bob Baffert was in the winner’s circle following stakes races 13 of a possible 28 times.
A track record for a trainer that figured to stand for a long time. And so it has, to this the 78th season and into the second decade of the 21st century.
But as the third week of the seven-week meeting draws to a close today, trainer Philip D’Amato is on pace to make a run at Baffert’s incredible mark.
The victory by Spectator in Saturday’s Sorrento Stakes was the fifth of the season for D’Amato from 16 added-money events with 21 more racing days and 25 stakes still ahead. D’Amato has a chance to throw another stake on the pile when he saddles Family Business (8-1) in Sunday’s Grade III $150,000 La Jolla Handicap.
“Hat’s off to all my owners and all my team,” D’Amato said after Spectator’s victory in the Sorrento on Saturday. “I’m just so happy with my team now. We’ve won graded stakes with 2-year-olds, older males on the dirt and grass horses. It shows the diversity in our barn and firing on all these different levels.
“It’s just very rewarding.”
The stakes victories this season have come in the Oceanside (Bowies Hero), Eddie Read (Hunt), Bing Crosby (Ransom the Moon), Daisycutter (Long Hot Summer) and Sorrento (Spectator). Spectator came out of the race in good order, D’Amato said, and is headed for the Grade I $300,000 Del Mar Debutante on September 2.
D’Amato captured his first Del Mar training title in 2016 with 23 wins to 21 for Peter Miller. In addition to his leading stakes totals this summer, he is also tied for the overall training lead with Doug O’Neill.
D’Amato, 41, the protégé of and successor to the late Mike Mitchell, Del Mar’s all-time leading trainer for wins with 476, has eight wins from 42 starters. O’Neill is eight-for-43.
D’Amato will give Joe Talamo a leg up on Fashion Business in the La Jolla Handicap. Fashion Business, an import from England by Little Red Feather Racing and Marsha Naify, was second in a 1 1/8-mile optional claimer with a $75,000 purse here on July 22, his best result in four U.S. starts.
“He’s definitely a longshot chance (to add to the stakes total),” D’Amato said Sunday morning. “We’re looking to get some graded stakes earnings and hopefully get a berth in the Del Mar Derby ($250,000 Grade II on September 3).”