2013 La Jolla Handicap; Nine Rivals to Tackle Del Mar Turf

2013 (GII) La Jolla Handicap; Nine Rivals to Tackle Del Mar Turf:   The 2013 La Jolla Handicap is a race for three-year-old horses on the turf and ran at 1 1/6 miles on the beautiful Jimmy Durante Turf Course in Del Mar, California. The race has a purse of $150,000 and is named for the city of La Jolla, California. The speed record for this race is held by Sidney’s Candy set in 2010 at 1:39.52.

The 2013 La Jolla Handicap is shaping up to be a very tough and competitive field with a grand total of nine thoroughbreds to battle it out on the turf. There are a few competitors such as Den’s Legacy, Dry Summer and Dice Flavor who were on the Triple Crown Trail but didn’t make it. There are also some lightly raced horses too like Freakin Rocket and Si Sage. The La Jolla Handicap is the final race before the Del Mar Derby on the turf set for Sunday, September 1, 2013 which decides the top three-year-old of Del Mar’s summer season. A few have tangled here before at the Oceanside Stakes and there really is no standout for me in this race..

Trainer Tim Yakteen believes he has a fast one in Freakin Rocket out of the sire Rock Hard Ten and dam Freakin Streakin. Last out on July 17 in the Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar, Freakin Rocket finished a close third behind Mr. Greeley. It was his first time at the distance and on turf. Freakin Rocket broke his maiden first out on May 18, 2013 at Betfair Hollywood Park going 61/2 F on synthetic and followed that up with a win in an Allowance at Hollywood Park going 6F on synthetic. I like Freakin Rocket in this race as in the Oceanside Stakes he was closing in very well but got bottled up. He has 2 wins and a third place, so he’s lightly race and ready to roll. Mike Smith gets the mount again from post #7.

Next is Dice Flavor out of Scat Daddy and trained by Paddy Gallagher. I’ve liked this horse all year especially after his win in the (GIII) El Camino Real Derby on February 16, 2012. His most recent outing was in the (GII) Swaps Stakes on July 4, 2013 where he finished third. I love the Scat Daddy babies and they seem to run well on the turf and I’m glad they are switching him back to it. Let’s see if Dice Flavor can burn up the grass here Saturday exiting from post #8 with Garret Gomez up.

Son of Mr. Greeley, Greeley Awesome, was recently claimed on June 9th by trainer John Sadler at Betfair Holiday Park where he won by 3 1/4 lengths. Mr. Greeley was closing hard in the stretch at the Oceanside Stakes but Gervinho beat him by a neck. He has run on the turf before and at this distance, so we’ll see if he can get a win here. Mr. Greeley breaks from post #5 with Julian Leparoux in the irons.

The 2013 La Jolla Handicap is going to be a great race to watch and I hope Freakin Rocket, Dice Flavor and Mr. Greeley can hit the board. For a long-shot I’d throw in Den’s Legacy. He ran sixth in the Oceanside and always seems game. I really like Den’s Legacy and he deserves a spot here. He’s a hard worker but for some reason has a tough time winning. I have a soft spot for him and I would love to see him get a piece of the prize.

The 2013 La Jolla Handicap is the 8th race of the day of 10 on Saturday, August 10, 2013 with a post time of 5:40 pm PDT. Run safe and good luck to the boys and their connections.

2013 La Jolla Handicap Post Positions & Odds
1. Si Sage 10/1 (FR) E.Maldonado/D.Vienna
2. Den’s Legacy 6/1 C.Nakatani/B.Baffert
3. Uno Dos Adios 8/1 A.Delgadillo/W.Spawr
4. Dry Summer 6/1 J.Talamo/J.Mullins
5. Greeley Awesome 9/2 J.Leparoux/J.W.Sadler
6. Rosengold 5/1 M.Garcia/J.C.Canani
7. Freakin Rocket 7/2 M.Smith/T.Yakteen
8. Dice Flavor 6/1 G.Gomez/P.Gallagher
9. Pure Loyalty 8/1 R. Beiarano/M.Glatt