Northern Quest Rewards Frankel With Stakes Win

The turf course here may not be trainer Bobby Frankel’s favorite, but the Hall of Famer has done quite well over the layout through the first six weeks of the meet.

Northern Quest, the 19-10 second choice, became Frankel’s sixth stakes winner on the Del Mar grass, which has come under criticism of late, when he won the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap on Monday.

In last place early under jockey Chris McCarron behind a quicker than anticipated pace, the 5-year-old son of Rainbow Quest got the lead with about one-eighth of a mile left and went on to win by 1 1/2 lengths in a stakes record 2:12 3/5 for the 1 3/8 miles. The time was one-fifth of a second off the course record set by Navarone in 1992.

Owned by Charles and Audrey Kenis’ 3 Plus U Stable, Northern Quest won for the sixth time in 13 starts and he has now won two of three since coming to the U.S.

“He’s a real nice horse,” said Frankel, who has a total of eight stakes wins at Del Mar, one behind leader Bob Baffert. “He had some problems, so we gave him some time. He was worth giving the time and he really came around.

“He didn’t break really sharp, but the fractions were legitimate and I felt OK. He really had a perfect trip. Everything opened up perfect for him.”

Alvo Certo, the original second-place finisher, was disqualified for interfering with 15-1 shot Perssonet in the stretch, so Perssonet was placed second and Alvo Certo third.

Blueprint, the 3-2 favorite, didn’t run any better on turf, which is supposed to be his preferred surface, than he did when trying the main track in the Hollywood Gold Cup on July 9. The Irish-bred, who was sixth in the Gold Cup in his first race in the U.S., was fifth without an excuse Monday.

“I asked him and there was no response,” jockey Kent Desormeaux said. “I had a great position with him, but then the pace quickened and there was no response.”

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Perfect Sting, arguably the country’s top female turf performer, remained unbeaten in 2000 by defeating License Fee and seven others in the $500,000 Diana Handicap, the closing day feature at Saratoga.

Owned by Frank Stronach and trained by Joe Orseno, the 3-5 favorite took over from the pacesetter License Fee approaching the wire to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:47 for the 1 1/8 miles on grass.

A 4-year-old daughter of Red Ransom who was again ridden by Jerry Bailey, Saratoga’s leading rider, Perfect Sting now has won 12 of 17 lifetime. Orseno said afterward she will start next in the $750,000 Flower Bowl Handicap on Oct. 7 at Belmont Park before heading to Churchill Downs for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 4.

“She’s sound, healthy and moving forward,” Orseno said. “She is a special filly.”

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Baffert collected his ninth stakes win of the season when heavily-favored Saudi Poetry won the $79,025 Torrey Pines Stakes on Monday at Del Mar.

The 1-5 choice against only four other 3-year-old fillies had to work harder than expected, but did prove best late to win by a bit more than a length over 6-1 shot Marty’s Zee. She completed the mile in 1:36 2/5.

Owned by Prince Ahmed Salman’s Thoroughbred Corporation, Saudi Poetry, a $1.7 million yearling purchase, scored her third victory in seven starts.

Notes

Eyesa Dancer, the fastest qualifier for the $2.1 million All American Futurity, won the Grade I quarter horse race Monday at Ruidoso Downs. Owned by Terry Bell, Jim Pitts and Homer Hill, the 2-year-old gray is trained by Jack Brooks and was ridden by Jacky Martin. This was the third win in four starts for the Texas-bred colt, who paid $7.60. Fashionisanattitude was second and First Down N Surfin was third. . . . Pine Dance, an 11-1 shot making his first start on dirt, won the $300,000 Pennsylvania Derby at Philadelphia Park. The son of Pine Bluff, who had won three of eight on turf, completed the 1 1/8 miles on a sloppy track in 1:49. Mass Market was second and Cherokeeinthehills was third. . . . Megans Bluff won the $150,000 Arlington Matron, defeating On A Soapbox in a photo finish. Tutorial was third. . . . Native Desert, who was ridden by Brice Blanc, won the $125,000 California Turf Championship at Bay Meadows. . . . With their wins aboard Northern Quest and Saudi Poetry, respectively, Chris McCarron and David Flores each have six stakes wins at Del Mar, one less than leader Victor Espinoza. . . . The total pool for Monday’s Coast-To-Coast Triple was $413,981 and the payoff for a $1 ticket was $36.75. The Coast-To-Coast Triple required bettors to pick the winners of the Diana Handicap, the Arlington Matron and the Del Mar Handicap.