Meteore pulls away in the La Jolla.
Meteore was in last place coming off the far turn with seemingly nowhere to go. But once jockey Alex Solis found room with a sweeping four-wide move it was clear sailing from there, as the son of Pulpit picked up all eight of his rivals en route to a 1 1/2-length victory in the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap (gr. IIT) (VIDEO) Aug. 15 on the Del Mar turf course.
Making his graded stakes debut while going off as the 6-1 fourth choice, Meteore posted his third win in his last four starts. The chestnut colt has now gone from maiden to graded stakes winner in a little more than four months for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella.
Meteore trailed throughout the backstretch in the 1 1/16-mile La Jolla, waiting patiently while stablemate New Bay clicked off an opening quarter of :23.05 and then dueled with I'll Show Them and Herr Mozart through a half-mile in :46.92 and three-quarters in 1:10.03.
New Bay and I’ll Show Them were the first to the quarter-pole, but a rallying Rendezvous easily took over approaching the top of the stretch with his three-wide move. Rendezvous, with Joel Rosario aboard, led until deep stretch, but was no match for Meteore, who came roaring like a freight train from the middle of the racetrack.
Meteore, a 3-year-old homebred of Wertheimer and Frere, hit the wire in 1:40.82 on a ‘firm’ turf course. Rendezvous was second, 1 3/4 lengths in front of Gretsky. Previously undefeated I’ll Show Them, the 5-2 favorite, was fourth.
"Richard told me he wanted to take him back, drop over and make one late run. It worked well," Solis said. "I knew they were going along at a good clip up front, so I felt comfortable back there. I saw Garrett's horse (Garrett Gomez on Gretsky) get in trouble near the five-sixteenths (pole), and I was able to come out and go around. It worked out perfectly. It was a good race for him."
The winner paid $14, $6.60, and $4.40. The $1 exacta (7-2) returned $27.90, and the $1 trifecta (7-2-4) was $100.20.
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The winner paid $14, $6.60, and $4.40. The $1 exacta (7-2) returned $27.90, and the $1 trifecta (7-2-4) was $100.20.
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