DEL MAR : No Cigar, but Bail Out Becky Is Not a Bad Consolation Prize

Bail Out Becky isn’t the horse Del Mar management would have chosen to be trainer Bill Mott’s first starter at its track.

They would rather have had Cigar six days ago in the Pacific Classic, and although Mott and owner Allen Paulson did consider bringing the nation’s best horse west again after his crushing victory in the Hollywood Gold Cup last month, Cigar stayed in New York to await the $500,000 Woodward Stakes on Sept. 16.

Instead, Bail Out Becky, a 3-year-old daughter of Red Ransom, will make history for Mott when she runs in the $250,000 Del Mar Oaks on Sunday.

Given her record and her affinity for shipping, owner Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s filly could make Mott a winner in his initial Del Mar competition.

Worse than third only once in nine races on the grass, Bail Out Becky has six victories at five different tracks. Most recently, she won a division of the Nijana at Saratoga, and last fall, she won the $200,000 Miesque at Hollywood Park.

“There’s really nothing for her here, not anything this good, so it’s really the only place to go,” said Mott, explaining why Bail Out Becky was sent here. “She’s coming off a very good race. She had a wide trip [in the Nijana] and still won and she’s doing well.”

Speaking by phone from Saratoga, where he’s the runaway leader in the trainer standings with 13 victories from his first 39 starters, Mott said he won’t be coming to Del Mar for the Oaks, which is run at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. Bail Out Becky arrived late Wednesday with Tim Jones and is stabled at Randy Bradshaw’s barn. Jones will saddle her Sunday, like he did when she won the Miesque.

Besides the Miesque and Nijana, Bail Out Becky has two added-money victories at Keeneland and also has victories at Belmont Park and Churchill Downs.

Shane Sellers, who has four victories in five collaborations with the filly, will ride.

Mott will be trying to upset Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Thunder Gulch in the $750,000 Travers Stakes today at Saratoga.

Composer, who was beaten 21 1/2 lengths by Thunder Gulch in the Belmont, has won his last two starts, including a five-length victory in the Jim Dandy on July 30.

“He’s improved a lot since the Belmont,” Mott said. “There’s no comparison. He’s more seasoned, more experienced and he’s gained confidence.

“We’re stepping up in class, taking on [Thunder Gulch], but he’s doing well and we’re happy with the way he’s going.”

The same can be said for Cigar.

“He’s doing well, really well,” Mott said. “He’ll go in the Woodward, then he could run in the Jockey Club Gold Cup [Oct. 7] before the Breeders’ Cup [Classic on Oct. 28]. We did consider the [Pacific Classic], but we didn’t feel he was on his game and we thought it would be better to back off on him a bit and give him a little bit of time.”

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Thunder Gulch will be aiming for his sixth victory in eight starts this year in the Travers, which drew five other 3-year-olds besides Composer.

A victory in the Travers would be the fourth Grade I victory of 1995 for the Gulch colt.

The rest of the Travers field includes Pyramid Peak, second behind Serena’s Song in the Haskell at Monmouth Park on July 30; Malthus, who made his U.S. debut in the Jim Dandy after winning four of eight in Panama; Star Standard, who was well-beaten in the Jim Dandy in his first race since finishing second in the Belmont Stakes; Citadeed, who has been third in his last two starts; and the overmatched Rank And File.

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Gold Land, who has three victories and a second in four starts since trainer Neil Drysdale switched him from turf to dirt, is the 2-1 favorite in the $101,800 Pat O’Brien Breeders’ Cup Handicap today at seven furlongs.

A 4-year-old gelded son of Gone West, Gold Land won the six-furlong Bing Crosby Handicap by three lengths three weeks ago. Eddie Delahoussaye will again be aboard.

Lit De Justice, who has had two fast six-furlong workouts (1:12 2/5 on Aug. 2 and 1:09 3/5 a week later), is the 3-1 second choice as he tries to end a four-race losing streak. The field also includes Concept Win; G Malleah; Pembroke, who will be making his first start on dirt; Score Quick; Swank and defending champion D’Hallevant.

Horse Racing Notes

The Pick Three payoff of $57,507.90 on the last three races on Thursday’s card was a Del Mar record. The three winners were Slyce ($37.20), One Rich Runner ($43.40) and Martial Reward ($73.20). One Rich Runner, who ended an 11-race losing streak on turf, and Martial Reward also combined for a record $1,736.40 payoff in the late daily double.