Mabee Victory Is a First for Drysdale

Although trainer Neil Drysdale had won 27 stakes at Del Mar, none of those included the John C. Mabee Handicap. Until Saturday.

Drysdale took two shots in the $400,000 Mabee -- known as the Ramona until it was renamed in honor of Del Mar’s late chairman in 2002 -- and his stronger contender, Musical Chimes, flew home for a 1 1/4-length win under Kent Desormeaux, who won two other races on the card. Moscow Burning, unable to withstand Musical Chimes in the stretch, finished second, a nose better than Notting Hill.

Light Jig, the 7-5 favorite, flattened out after trying to circle the field on the far turn and finished last in the six-horse field. Drysdale’s other starter, Dimitrova, was fourth.

The Mabee, at 1 1/8 miles on grass, was Musical Chimes’ first win in five U.S. starts since the filly arrived from France at Drysdale’s Hollywood Park barn late last year. She had finished second three times, including the Yellow Ribbon at Santa Anita and the Matriarch at Hollywood last year, but was seventh in her last start, against males in the Charlie Whittingham Handicap at Hollywood on June 12.

The second choice Saturday in a crowd of 23,377, Musical Chimes paid $6.20, reaching the wire in 1:47. Desormeaux, who had ridden her twice before, didn’t have to use his whip.

“She has an enormous turn of foot,” said Desormeaux, who will be inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., next month. “She just throws me into the back seat when she takes off. I knew I had the horses in front of me measured, but I have great respect for Light Jig. I’ve been on her. But she didn’t fire today.”

Light Jig, who was ridden by David Flores, subbing for the injured Alex Solis, had won three of four U.S. starts.

Flores was succinct in his post-race comments. “Nothing,” he said. “She just didn’t have it. No punch.”

Drysdale said that Musical Chimes’ next race would be the $750,000 Beverly D. at Arlington Park on Aug. 14.

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Ashado, upset last month by Stellar Jayne in the Mother Goose, disposed of that rival by 4 1/2 lengths in the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont Park.

Stellar Jayne finished second, 7 1/2 lengths ahead of Magical Illusion, on a muddy track. Ashado, undefeated in four tries over off tracks, paid $3.50, running 1 1/4 miles in 2:02. John Velazquez rode the winner for trainer Todd Pletcher.

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Senor Swinger, who had won only one of his last 10 stakes races, found room on the inside under Brice Blanc to win the $250,000 Arlington Handicap by a head over Mystery Giver. Ballingarry, the 8-5 favorite, was third, a length behind Mystery Giver. The stewards disallowed foul claims against Senor Swinger and Mystery Giver before allowing the result to stand.

Senor Swinger, owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis, is trained by Bob Baffert, who remained at Del Mar to saddle Western Hemisphere for her win in the $100,000 Fleet Treat Stakes. Senor Swinger paid $5.60.

Also at Arlington, Irish training legend Dermot Weld won the American Derby for the third time in five years, this one with Simple Exchange, who beat Cool Conductor by a head. It was another two lengths back to Toasted, the 6-5 favorite.

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Hard Buck, a U.S. horse beaten by Senor Swinger at Churchill Downs last month, shipped over to England and ran second, between a pair of Godolphin horses, as a 33-1 longshot in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot. Hard Buck, ridden by Gary Stevens, led briefly with an eighth of a mile to go but was beaten by three lengths by Doyen, ridden by Frankie Dettori. Sulamani finished third.

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Trainer Mike Machowsky told the Daily Racing Form that Southern Image has been slow healing from a cracked hoof and will miss the $1-million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 22.