DEL MAR : Baldomero Wins Osunitas, Gives Shoemaker First Stakes Victory

Twenty years ago and one day after his biggest milestone, Bill Shoemaker came up with another on Saturday.

Baldomero, a 9-1 shot in the $83,025 Osunitas Handicap, provided the world’s winningest rider with his first stakes victory as a trainer.

The 5-year-old Pas de Seul mare’s victory over 50-1 shot Kikala and eight others almost coincided with the 20-year anniversary of Shoemaker’s historic 6,033rd victory. On Sept. 7, 1970, he guided Dares J. into the winner’s circle and propelled himself past John Longden.

Besides being his first stakes victory, the Osunitas was Shoemaker’s initial success at the Del Mar meeting. He was 0 for 16 going into the restricted race after a solid Hollywood Park season.

“What are you going to say?” Shoemaker said after Baldomero won by three-quarters of a length while completing the 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:42. “(Gary Stevens) rode her well. She ran well. The last time, she had to go around the field and Wedding Bouquet (the 9-5 favorite Saturday) got through on the inside.

“This is great. I predicted she would be a stakes winner when these people bought the horse. It makes you feel good when your predictions come true.”

No doubt, Baldomero has been a model of consistency since coming to the United States. She hasn’t been worse than second in five starts and the Osunitas was her second victory.

“She wasn’t that good a filly in Europe, but she’s improved over here,” Shoemaker said. “Probably the air. She blossomed out; she’s a better-looking mare. I rode her once at Ascot (in England) and she was kind of washy and silly. Mr. (Robert) Sangster sent her over here last year; she was one of the first horses I acquired.”

Fifth after six furlongs behind the moderate pace being set by Paper Princess, Baldomero rallied on the outside through the stretch and was going away at the wire. Kikala, the longest shot in the field after finishing last as the 5-2 favorite in her previous start, defeated Tessla by a neck for second. Wedding Bouquet, who was very impressive in her American debut Aug. 22, was another head back in fourth.

“Shoe told me to ride her like you own her,” Stevens said. “That’s all he said. She’s a consistent mare. She gives 100% every time. Today’s extra distance helped her.

“That mile the other day was just too short. She’s only got one quick burst, but the distance was to her advantage this time. I’m happy for Shoe.”

Chris McCarron had no excuses for Wedding Bouquet, concluding what was a less-than-memorable day for trainer Gary Jones. Earlier, his Timebank had finished last as the 6-5 favorite in Belmont’s Fall Highweight Handicap.

“I had a good trip,” McCarron said. “She moved up there real nice, but then she hung just a tad near the end.”

Robbie Davis is looking for a new agent.

The rider, who has won only four times from 107 tries at Del Mar, and Jeff Franklin, his agent since he came to California early in 1989, parted company Saturday.

“Robbie and I are still friends; it’s an amicable parting,” said Franklin, who previously had worked for Gary Stevens, among others, and is generally considered one of the best agents. “There are overriding personal concerns.”

Listening to Davis, it’s clear the decision to split wasn’t his.

“I’m shocked,” he said. “I’m losing a great agent, probably the best I’ve ever had. It’s going to be very hard to replace him. I’m sorry he had to do what he did.

“I was off for three weeks with a bad back, then my wife had a baby. There’s been a lot of stress and we didn’t bounce back as well as we had hoped.

“I have no idea, I haven’t got a clue (about a new agent). Jeff’s been with me ever since I came here, so I don’t know too many agents out here. I want to stay here. That’s why I left New York; to come out here.”

Kansas City is the 4-1 third choice on the morning line for today’s $1-million Molson Export Million at Woodbine.

Trained by Julio Canani and owned by Clover Racing Stable, Kansas City has won two in a row since returning from a seven-month layoff. Claimed for $32,000 late last year, the son of Habitony won a Hollywood Park sprint in his comeback, then got his first stakes victory, the Windy Sands Handicap here Aug. 15. Kansas City, who has won four of seven, will be ridden for the first time by Chris McCarron. Clover won the Molson last year with Prized.

Izvestia, the Canadian Triple Crown winner, will be the heavy favorite in the 1 1/4-mile race. Owned by Kinghaven Farm, the son of Icecapade will be shooting for his eighth consecutive stakes victory. Don Seymour will ride.

The rest of the field includes Shot Gun Scott, Baron de Vaux, Bloody Caesar, Pleasant Rapture, Piper Gray and Chief Honcho.

A full field of 12 is expected for Wednesday’s $350,000-estimated Del Mar Futurity, the closing-day feature.

The probable favorite is Best Pal, winner of the Balboa and I’m Smokin stakes at the meeting. The gelded son of Habitony will race coupled with Magnificent Red, a Secretariat colt who broke his maiden at first asking Aug. 25. Both 2-year-olds are owned by John Mabee’s Golden Eagle Farm.

The other probable starters are Sunshine Machine, who will be ridden by Jose Santos in his Del Mar debut, Formal Dinner, Bucking Bird, Arctic Deputy, Pillaring,. Regional, Terrific Trip, Southern Justice, Got To Fly and Running Total.

Of the dozen expected to go, five were supplemented for $10,000 before the Friday deadline. They are Sunshine Machine, Formal Dinner, Southern Justice, Got To Fly and Running Total. Drag Race, the surprise winner of the Futurity last year, was also supplemented.

Horse Racing Notes.

Friday was senior citizen’s day at Del Mar. Trainer Steve Ippolito, 75, won the featured Torrey Pines Stakes with 15-1 shot Oh Sweet Thing and, five races earlier, L.J. Brooks, who will turn 84 Sept. 28, clicked with 5-1 shot Chief Dare. Brooks is the oldest trainer ever to win a race at Del Mar. . . . Russell Baze and Julio Garcia both won twice Saturday.

Charlie Whittingham will start two of the four entrants in today’s $206,300 Del Mar Budweiser Breeders’ Cup over a mile. Ruhlmann is the 123-pound highweight and he will be ridden by Gary Stevens. Whittingham’s other contestant is Lively One, who is partial to Del Mar. Alex Solis has the mount. The other starters are Stalwart Charger and Flying Continental.