DEL MAR : Pace Is Right for D’hallevant in Pat O’Brien

Trainer Ron McAnally glanced away from the race for a second and checked the half-mile time on the tote board. He quickly looked toward the far corner of the track, where his horse, D’hallevant, was clinging to the lead.

What he had seen was enough to tell him his horse was in good position to win the $100,000 Pat O’Brien Handicap, a Grade III race for older horses.

He was right. D’hallevant, under Corey Nakatani, held off a late challenge from stretch-running Minjinsky and won by five lengths.

“They ran all day long in 44 and change (for the half-mile),” McAnally said. “I looked up and saw 45 and thought we’d be tough.”

The track seemed to be getting faster as the day progressed, the first half-mile in races four, five and six all being run in 44-plus seconds. Even a field of maiden 2-year-old fillies ran the half in 44 2/5. D’hallevant, the only proven front-runner in the feature race, went out in 45 seconds, encouraging McAnally to conclude he had energy in reserve for the stretch.

D’hallevant came out of the gate with Subtle Trouble, a longshot, on his shoulder, but Subtle Trouble would be no trouble at all. McAnally was watching Minjinsky, the other favorite, who was loping along in last place, but only 3 1/2 lengths behind.

By the time D’hallevant turned for home, Subtle Trouble was gone and Nakatani was stealing peeks over his shoulder.

“He made an easy lead,” Nakatani said, “and he was relaxed out there. I was taking a peek just to make sure nobody was getting too close.”

No one did. Minjinsky blew past the rest of the field but was no match for the winner.

“Minjinsky cut the corner and saved ground on the inside,” McAnally said, “but he couldn’t catch up.”

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Saturday’s second race, the $60,000 Sandy Blue Handicap, was a cut above the norm because of the caliber of today’s Del Mar Oaks. These were 3-year-old fillies whose owners and trainers wanted nothing to do with the likes of Sardula and Work The Crowd.

La Frontera finished first, but had squeezed Baby Diamonds against the rail at the top of the stretch, causing jockey Chris Antley to take up and then forcing Gary Stevens to take up on Dancing Mirage.

After a lengthy inquiry, Dancing Mirage was given the victory. Musical Pal, who was not directly involved with La Frontera’s meanderings, moved up to second. Both of those fillies were moved to the Sandy Blue to avoid today’s Oaks.

Ultimately, La Frontera was placed fourth, Baby Diamonds moving up to the third spot.

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Sardula, trained by Brian Mayberry and ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye, is the 8-5 morning line favorite in the Grade I $175,000 Del Mar Oaks. The 3-year-old filly, the horse of the meet here last year, scared off all but five challengers today. She had not run since finishing second to Lakeway in the Hollywood Oaks on July 10.

One who was not scared off is Work The Crowd, trained by Greg Gilchrist and ridden by Chris McCarron. She was the winner of a four-horse blanket-finish in the San Clemente Handicap on July 30 and comes into the Oaks the No. 2 pick at 5-2.

Two others from under that San Clemente finish, second-place Pharma and fourth-place Malli Star, are also in the field, Pharma at 4-1 and Malli Star at 6-1. The third-place finisher in the San Clemente was Dancing Mirage.

Another factor in the race probably will be Twice The Vice, back with the fillies after finishing second to Saltgrass in the Oceanside Stakes opening day. She is at 4-1.

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Soviet Problem and Mamselle Bebette, two high-strung and speedy fillies, will race between the fifth and sixth races in a match race billed as the Showdown at the Seashore. The first match race at Del Mar in 56 years might not be compelling in terms of national interest, but it is a bit of a conversation piece.

“My horse is fast, very fast,” said McCarron, Soviet Problem’s jockey. “And I know she’ll try all the way through.”

Nakatani got into the race as Mamselle Bebette’s jockey after Cool Air, Soviet Problem’s initial opponent, was scratched because of an infected throat.

“She’s not the easiest horse to ride,” Nakatani said of Mamselle Bebette, “but she’s won a few stakes for me.”

Soviet Problem is favored at 3-5 and Mamselle Bebette is 4-5.