Delahoussaye Reigns on Del Mar’s Opening Day : When Given Choice, He Prefers Favorites

Given the choice, Eddie Delahoussaye would just as soon ride one of the favored horses in every race. He simply doesn’t get a kick out of riding a longshot.

On Wednesday’s opening day at Del Mar, Delahoussaye saw both ends of the spectrum in the two divisions of the $40,000 Oceanside Stakes. He rode the the first division’s longshot, Grey Gauntlet, and the second division’s second betting choice, Varick.

The two horses had one thing in common: Both gave Delahoussaye rides to the winner’s circle.

Grey Gauntlet, at 18-to-1, paid $38.60 to win. Varick, a 5-to-2 pick rated just behind Well Related (2-to-1), paid $7.40 to win.

“You have more of a positive attitude when you are out on a favorite rather than a horse that is 13-to-1,” Delahoussaye said. “That’s not saying you don’t have a shot when you are 13-to-1. You have a lot better shot when you are 8-to-5 than when you are 13-to-1.”

Regardless of odds, Delahoussaye is a good bet in the annual Oceanside Stakes. The last rider to win both divisions of the Oceanside Stakes happened to be Delahoussaye in 1981.

Varick, winner of the second division race, is trained by Edwin Gregson. In 1982, Gregson trained Kentucky Derby winner Gato Del Sol, which was ridden by Delahoussaye.

Aboard Varick Wednesday, Delahoussaye did not exactly have a joy ride. When the horses reached the quarter-mile pole, Cracksman backed into Delahoussaye’s horse. Despite being trapped, Varick was able to make a late sprint from sixth to first.

“I didn’t think he’d win,” Delahoussaye said. “After what happened, he came on and excelled. And on the backside, he crossed some tire tracks. If you could see that rascal jump, he must’ve jumped three feet.”

Normally when a horse jumps like Varick did, it is history for the race. However, it was not just another normal day for Delahoussaye and his mounts.

In the first division of the Oceanside Stakes, it also appeared that Delahoussaye’s horse would finish well back in the pack. Grey Gauntlet had been ninth out of 10 horses 2 furlongs into the 7 1/2-furlong race.

“He ran great. He surprised me,” Delahoussaye said. “He just broke his maiden. He was running with horses that might’ve won a couple of races or placed in stakes. It’s hard to figure a horse like that winning this race.”

Grey Gauntlet had recently been gelded after several poor performances.

“Naturally, you just hope he’s on the upswing by having broken maiden,” Delahoussaye said. “The only thing you can think to yourself is that he can win if he improves. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you don’t. He definitely showed he’s on the upswing by winning.”

After Grey Gauntlet became the longest shot of the day to win, Delahoussaye said he still would have preferred to be riding a favorite.

“But I’m not going to complain,” he said. “Let’s put it this way. If you’re riding for the Triple Crown, you want to be riding the favorite. You’d have to be silly not to want to ride the favorite. If the favorites won all the time, why would anybody come to the race track? There wouldn’t be any excitement.”

Whether on a favorite or longshot, Delahoussaye provided plenty of excitement for those who bet on him in the Oceanside Stakes.