NOTEBOOK: FUTURITY CLOSES DEL MAR SEASON.Byline: Daily News Record-setting jockey Victor Espinoza Victor Espinoza (born May 23, 1972 in Mexico City, Mexico) is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He began riding in his native Mexico and earned his first win there in 1992 before moving the following year to compete at racetracks in California. and leading trainer Doug O'Neill have potential upsetters of favored Prime Ruler in the $250,000 Del Mar Futurity The Del Mar Futurity is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. Beginning in the racing season of 2007, this race has been upgraded by the American Graded Stakes Committee from a Grade II event to a Grade I. as Del Mar Del Mar is the name of several places in the United States of America:
O'Neill saddles Great Hunter Great Hunter (foaled March 31, 2004 in Pennsylvania) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was sold by his breeder through the September 2005 Keeneland Sales to Ilona Whetstone. The colt was resold in June of 2006 to J. , second in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship and Del Mar's Best Pal Stakes The Best Pal Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The race is open to horses, age two, that are willing to race six and one-half furlongs on the dirt. A Grade II event, it carries a purse of $150,000. to 2-year-olds who won't run in the Futurity. Espinoza rides Richard Mandella-trained Horse Greeley, coming off a four-length victory over maidens. ``He's not as mature as he could be,'' Espinoza said of Horse Greeley, ``but he's got a nice future.'' Espinoza's Del Mar-record seven winners Monday gave him 62 at the meet and a lead of 27 over Martin Garcia. O'Neill has 18 wins and a lead of two over Jeff Mullins, who entered only one horse today. Prime Ruler, with Alex Solis riding for trainer Chris Paasch, is 8-5 on the morning line for the seven-horse Futurity after a late-charging debut victory. Fairplex Park opens the L.A. County Fair season Friday. CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- 2) Victor Espinoza, above, and Doug O'Neill will try to pull an upset in today's Del Mar Futurity. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images Haider Shah/Getty Images |
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