Tranquility Lake Repeats

In case anyone missed the 2000 Palomar Handicap, Del Mar ran a replay late Saturday afternoon. It was called the 2001 Palomar Handicap.

Getting the same kind of easy, front-running trip she had a year ago, heavilyfavored Tranquility Lake became the first repeat winner of the Grade II. Never having to feel the whip from jockey Eddie Delahoussaye, the 6-year-old daughter of Rahy controlled things from the outset and went on to beat 7-1 shot La Ronge by a length in 1:414/5 for the 11/16 miles on turf.

This was the second stakes win of the meet for Tranquility Lake, the 4-5 choice, and her 11th win in 25 career starts for owners Marty and Pam Wygod. Most of her success has come on the turf, but she showed in last month’s Clement L. Hirsch Handicap, when defeating Gourmet Girl, that she could also handle the main track.

This means the Wygods and trainer Julio Canani have a decision to make regarding the Breeders’ Cup. Does Tranquility Lake run in the Distaff at 11/8 miles on the dirt or the Filly and Mare Turf at 11/4 miles? Before that question has to be answered, the bay mare will have one more race--either the Yellow Ribbon on turf or the Lady’s Secret Breeders’ Cup Handicap on dirt. Both races are early next month at Santa Anita.

Tranquility Lake-whose task was made easier with the scratch of Paga, who had won her U.S. debut on Aug. 8 in front-running style-earned $90,000 Saturday. It pushed her career earnings to $1,562,390.

La Ronge finished a half-length in front of Al Desima, the longest shot in the field at 22-1, then came Histoire Sainte, Tout Charmant, the 3-1 second choice who was making her first appearance since winning the Matriarch on Nov. 26, and High Walden.

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Winless in graded stakes events at Del Mar, Chris McCarron rode favored Came Home to a two-length victory over 9-2 third choice Mayakovsky in the $200,000 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga. Owned by Trudy McCaffery and John Toffan and trained by Paco Gonzalez, Came Home, a 2-year-old son of Gone West, is unbeaten in three starts. He had won twice at Hollywood Park, including the Hollywood Juvenile, before earning his initial Grade I victory Saturday.

Second for the first half-mile while Roman Dancer, a 23-1 shot and the other shipper from California, set the pace, Came Home saw Mayakovsky, who was making only his second start, get within a head of the lead a furlong from home, but the 11-10 favorite kicked clear late. He completed the seven furlongs in 1:214/5.

Mayakovsky finished nearly seven lengths in front of 30-1 shot Thunder Days, then came Roman Dancer, Jump Start, the 5-2 second choice, Proud Citizen and Deputy Connor.

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In the other Grade I on Saratoga’s card, Delaware Township, the 5-2 favorite, rallied wide to beat 9-2 third choice Left Bank by 11/4 lengths in the $250,000 Forego Handicap.

Trained by Ben Perkins Jr. for the New Farm, the 5-year-old son of Notebook ran the 61/2 furlongs in 1:152/5 under Jerry Bailey.

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Point Given, who had to be retired because of a tendon injury in his left foreleg, will be paraded between races on Wednesday, Del Mar’s closing day.