Oaks Win a Gift for Drysdale

George Strawbridge Jr., who bought No Matter What for $425,000 as a yearling and began her racing career in France, thought the faster-paced California grass racing would be better suited for his filly.

“Thank you, George,” trainer Neil Drysdale said Sunday at Del Mar, where No Matter What, in her U.S. debut, found room on the inside to win the $250,000 Del Mar Oaks before 17,383.

Victor Espinoza, Del Mar’s leading jockey, passed the fading Queenie Belle in mid-stretch and won by a half-length. No Matter What, who had beaten only one horse in her last race on July 30 at Deauville, paid $34.80 to win.

The next two finishers--Theoretically and Premiere Creation--were also recent arrivals, Theoretically from Ireland and Premiere Creation from France. Theoretically, winless this year, went off at 14-1 and finished a half-length in front of Premiere Creation. Uncharted Haven, winner of the San Clemente Handicap on Aug. 5 at Del Mar and the 3-2 favorite, lacked racing room in the stretch and was fourth, beaten by 1 1/2 lengths. The time for 1 1/8 miles on grass was 1:50, the slowest running of the Oaks since 1987.

Espinoza had No Matter What saving ground on the rail, in fourth place, as he tracked the pacesetter, Queenie Belle, most of the way. No Matter What came out for her winning run just as Theoretically launched her rally.

“I knew that horse in front of me was going to stop,” Espinoza said.

No Matter What, bred by Arthur B. Hancock III and Bob and Janice McNair of Stonerside Farm, is a daughter of Nureyev and Words Of War, a Lord At War mare. Nureyev also sired Skimming, winner of Saturday’s $1-million Pacific Classic here.

In France, where she was trained by Jonathan Pease, No Matter What had won two of six starts.

“I give all the credit to Jonathan Pease,” Drysdale said. “He sent her over in great condition, and all I had to do was put on the tack.”

Strawbridge, who lives in Cochranville, Pa., has raced steeplechase horses, including 1977-78 champion Cafe Prince, that have earned a record $3 million. His biggest U.S. win on the flat was with Tikkanen, who was first in the Breeders’ Cup Turf in 1994.

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General Challenge, fourth as the 9-10 favorite Saturday in the Pacific Classic, will probably be turned out and given a freshening, trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday.

“I think that’s what [owners John and Betty Mabee] want to do,” Baffert said.

Baffert also reported that General Challenge had a “minor swelling” in his right front ankle after the race.

“I noticed it coming off the track,” Baffert said. “We took X-rays and fortunately they were clean. We’ll continue to look at it the next few days to see where we are.”

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Performing Magic, a Del Mar shipper, caught Mister Deville in the final strides to win by a neck in the $300,000 Remington Park Derby in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Ridden by Shane Sellers, Performing Magic ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:50 2/5 and paid $3.80 as the favorite in the 10-horse field. Mister Deville, who was 21-1, finished 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Del Mar Danny, the third-place finisher.

Performing Magic, owned by Ahmed Salman’s Thoroughbred Corp., was saddled for the first time by John Shirreffs, who took over after Alex Hassinger Jr. resigned a few weeks ago. Performing Magic, who won the Kentucky Derby Trial and the Illinois Derby, was making his first start since a fifth-place finish in the Affirmed Handicap at Hollywood Park on July 1.

Horse Racing Notes

The Del Mar stewards did not suspend jockey Luis Jauregui for his role in Saturday’s spill that resulted in the death of Candace In Paris, an undefeated filly, and a broken collarbone for Corey Nakatani. Near the quarter pole of the Finlandia Cup Handicap, Candace In Paris, ridden by Nakatani, clipped heels with Elderberry, Jauregui’s mount, and went down, breaking her shoulder. Just before the incident, Jauregui appeared to be avoiding clipping heels with the horse in front of Elderberry. After finishing second, Elderberry was disqualified to last place. . . . Serena’s Tune, a daughter of Mr. Prospector and Serena’s Song and a $1-million yearling purchase, made her debut for James and Alice Sapara and trainer Neil Drysdale Sunday, winning the sixth race. . . . Pleasant Breeze, winner of the $300,000 Saratoga Breeders’ Cup Handicap, returned lame in his left foreleg. The horse was vanned off the track, but a track veterinarian said that the 5-year-old gelding did not appear to have a fracture. Pleasant Breeze finished last on July 9 in the Hollywood Gold Cup. . . . Rize was a nine-length winner of the $350,000 Iselin Handicap at Monmouth Park.