Horse Greeley Wins Del Mar Futurity

Horse Greeley, under jockey Victor Espinoza, stalked Stormello down the backside to win the Del Mar Futurity, closingh race to Del Mar Race Track’s Summer Meet on Sept. 6.

Caped for Flight settled into third, Prime Ruler, co-favored at 8-5 with Great Hunter, broke poorly from the inside and was never in the hunt.

The field went the opening quarter in :22.32 and the half in :44.84. Horse Greeley moved easily to the lead as the field rolled out of the turn and was never threatened down the stretch. He ran the seven furlongs in 1:22.93.

Great Hunter, who had moved to third in the turn, closed to get second and Stormello held on for third.

The winner was bred in Kentucky by his owners, Martha and Ray Parfet, and is trained by Richard Mandella. He is out of the Storm Cat mare Chile Chatte. The juvenile colt made his first start going 5 ½ furlongs at Del Mar July 22, finishing second, and then returned three weeks later to break his maiden by four at 8 ½ furlongs.

Horse Greeley paid $8.40, $3.60 and $2.80, while Great Hunter, who has run second in four of his five career races, returned $3 and $2.60. Stormello was worth $3.80 to show.

2006 DelMar Race Meet, Del Mar Odds, DelMar Picks, DelMar Tips, Del Mar Results, Del Mar Futurity 2006

DelMar Horses To watch

By Greg Melikov

Horses worth watching compiled by handicapper/racing writer Greg Melikov won eight races and finished second three times since Aug. 13.

DEL MAR

Midnight Lute: Bobbled at break, dropped back to ninth, moved to eighth more than 4 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced outside on turn six wide for drive, closed willingly in stretch to make up more than two lengths and lost by a half-length at six furlongs on July 28. (Pressed pace in third through turn, took lead by a half-length in stretch and drew off by 3 ½ lengths under some urging at seven furlongs on Aug. 20.)

Record: Steadied at start, trailed early, inched up to eighth more than 7 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced on turn, came out for drive, steadied off heels of rival in upper stretch, rallied between foes from fifth to make up 4 ¼ lengths and lost by a neck and 1 ¼ lengths at 6 ½ furlongs on July 27. (Broke last, trailed by more than 4 ½ lengths after a half-mile, swung five wide into stretch, rallied to grab leaded and pulled away under left-handed urging to win by more than 32 ¾ lengths at 6 ½ furlongs on Aug. 31.)

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2006 DelMar Race Meet, Del Mar Odds, DelMar Picks, DelMar Tips, Del Mar Results, Del Mar Futurity 2006