Seven’s Lucky for Espinoza

Nobody is sorrier to see the end of Del Mar than Victor Espinoza.

The jockey, who long ago wrapped up the riding title, won all three stakes races on the penultimate day of the meet Monday, but there was much more to his afternoon.

He won seven races in all, something no other rider had ever done at the seaside track.

Besides breaking one record, Espinoza, 34, matched another. After winning the final race Sunday aboard Jolly Spirit, he won the first six Monday, giving him seven consecutive wins over two days, something the late Bill Shoemaker had done in 1954.

The biggest of Espinoza’s wins was with favored Point Ashley ($5.20) in the $250,000 Del Mar Debutante.

Owned by Zayat Stables LLC and trained by Bob Baffert, who saddled three of Espinoza’s winners Monday, Point Ashley, the 2-year-old Point Given filly, won for the second time in three starts and became a Grade 1 winner.

Purchased for $725,000 this year at Keeneland, Point Ashley sat well off the blistering pace set by longshot Mistical Plan, took the lead early in the stretch and went on to a comfortable victory. She ran the seven furlongs in 1:23.34.

“This is a great feeling,” said Espinoza, who has 62 wins heading into closing day Wednesday. “It’s unbelievable. When I was a kid and I knew I wanted to be a jockey, I dreamed about winning the Kentucky Derby (which he did with War Emblem in 2002) and winning six or seven races in one day, and today was the day.”

The other stakes victories for Espinoza came with heavily favored Spot The Diplomat in the $106,400 I’m Smokin, and with Baffert-trained Preachinatthebar in the $89,445 Windy Sands Handicap.

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Circular Quay, who was about 14 lengths behind the leaders after the first quarter of a mile, powered past his four tired opponents in the final eighth of a mile to win the $245,000 Hopeful on closing day at Saratoga.

Unbeaten in three starts for owner-breeders Michael and Doreen Tabor and trainer Todd Pletcher, the 2-year-old Thunder Gulch colt took advantage of a quick early pace -- the half mile was run in 44.86 seconds -- and showed the same late energy he had in his two earlier wins at Churchill Downs.

Garrett Gomez, who finished second to Edgar Prado in the Saratoga jockey standings, rode the chestnut for the first time, replacing injured Rafael Bejarano.

The final time for the seven furlongs in the Grade 1 was 1:23. Scat Daddy, who was coupled with Circular Quay, finished second. The entry returned $3.60 as the 4-5 favorite.

“The race obviously set up well for Circular Quay,” said Pletcher, who won his fifth consecutive training title at Saratoga. “I think he is the divisional leader at this stage.”

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Noble Stella, a 4-1 shot, won the final stakes of the Saratoga season, taking the $112,100 Glens Falls Handicap.

The win was some consolation for jockey Mike Smith, who suffered through a forgettable Saratoga.

The victory was only his fourth of the meet and his lone stakes win.

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Trainer Paul Jones and jockey Cody Jensen made it two wins in a row in the $1.9-million All American Futurity when 4-1 shot No Secrets Here edged favored Gun Battle in record setting fashion at Ruidoso Downs.

A 2-year-old California-bred son of First Down Dash owned by Vessels Stallion Farm and Benny Rosset, No Secrets Here ran the 440 yards over a sloppy track in 20.88 seconds.

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bob.mieszerski@latimes.com