It’s a Benchmark Victory That Suits Delahoussaye Just Fine

Victimized by a slow pace when second in the San Diego Handicap early in the meeting, Benchmark got a scenario made to order in the $206,700 Del Mar Breeders’ Cup Handicap Sunday.

After Northern Afleet and Crafty Friend, the first two betting choices in the Grade II race, set a quick pace (46 1/5 for the half-mile), jockey Eddie Delahoussaye and Benchmark came and got them late, winning by a length in 1:35 2/5 for the mile.

A 6-year-old son of Alydar who is trained by Ron Ellis for owners Pam and Marty Wygod, the 5-1 third choice in the field of five earned his sixth win in 13 lifetime starts. Crafty Friend, the 4-5 favorite, finished second, three lengths ahead of Northern Afleet.

“I felt the pace up front was a good one,” said Delahoussaye, who is in a three-way race for the jockey title with Alex Solis and Kent Desormeaux. “I couldn’t tell if they were going real fast or not, but I knew I was farther back than [the San Diego], so I thought it was OK.

“I spoke to Ron [via phone since the trainer is at the Keeneland September sale] and he said to just go ahead and ride him like I did last time and not to change his style. It all worked out perfect.”

Third behind Gentlemen and Siphon in the Pacific Classic last month, Crafty Friend, who was aiming for his sixth victory in 17 starts, paid the price late for his early duel with Northern Afleet.

“He ran well, but he didn’t want to switch leads in the stretch today,” said Solis, who, with two days remaining in the season, leads Desormeaux and Delahoussaye, 38-36. “It cost him. That had never happened before, but it did today. There’s always a first time for things.”

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A day after escaping injury in a post-race spill, jockey Gary Stevens won a pair of stakes Sunday, giving him 12 and tying him with Laffit Pincay, Jr. and Chris McCarron for most stakes victories in a Del Mar meeting..

Trying two turns for the first time, favored Relaxing Rhythm remained unbeaten in six starts with a neck victory over Alzora in the $77,550 Torrey Pines Stakes.

Owned by Frank Stronach and trained by Dave Hofmans, the 9-10 favorite ran the mile in 1:35 4/5 for her second win here. Her first four victories came at Woodbine in Toronto and the Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

A race later, Yokama, the even-money choice, destroyed a field of five other fillies and mares in the $75,775 CHBPA & TOC Handicap, winning by nine lengths. The 4-year-old Irish River filly, who had won the Honey Fox Handicap on Aug. 1 over this course, completed the 1 3/8 miles on turf in 2:14 4/5.

Owned by Allen Paulson and trained by Bill Mott, who sent a small string of horses to this meeting with assistant Simon Bray, Yokama now has seven victories in 16 starts and is six for 13 on the grass.

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Going for a third consecutive win in Saturday’s Rocking Chair Derby, a betless exhibition which features retired riders, Ray York was disqualified from first on Seventh Slew and placed second for stretch interference.

Moved up was Danny Velasquez, who rode Emperor Hudson in the 5 1/2-furlong race for older maiden claimers.

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Horse Racing Notes

Jockey Michael Hunter had three victories Sunday. He won the second and fifth with favorites Siyah Tomboy and A.J. Jett, respectively, then scored a 9-1 surprise on Gingerbob in the seventh. The victory by A.J. Jett was his fourth in a row and third of the meeting. . . . Double Honor was made the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the $250,000 Del Mar Futurity, the closing day feature on Wednesday. Seven other 2-year-olds were entered Sunday morning for the seven-furlong race.