2014 San Diego Handicap Day

Martin Garcia celebrates aboard Fed Biz after winning the 2014 San Diego Handicap

The feature race on Saturday at Del Mar was the $200,000 San Diego Handicap (G2) for older horses at 1 1/16 miles over the Polytrack. Conditions were excellent at the seaside oval for the 27,072 fans in attendance, with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 80's. Ben Ali (G3) and Eclipse (G2) winner Frac Daddy was sent off as the 2-1 favorite in the field of 9 of his second place finish in the Dominion Day (G3) at Woodbine. In to challenge him included 3-1 second choice Fed Biz, unraced since 6th in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), and 5-1 third choice Soi Phet, winner of the Bertrando Stakes at Los Alamitos.

Fed Biz draws away from Footbridge in the stretch

Jockey Martin Garcia sent Fed Biz to the lead first time past the stands and he set fractions of 23.75, 47.29, and 1:10.81 while stalked by 16-1 Handsome Mike. Entering the stretch, Handsome Mike tired as Fed Biz opened up a 3 1/2 length lead at the 1/8 pole. 25-1 Footbridge, sixth early, came out 3 wide to rally but to no avail, as Fed Biz cruised past the post 5 1/4 lengths in front in a new track record time of 1:41.00 over the fast Polytrack. It was another length back to 8-1 You Know I Know third, and 1/2 a length more to favorite Frac Daddy fourth. The running time was 0.48 seconds faster than the previous record set by Zenyatta in the 2008 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes.

Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 11 Fed Biz Garcia 8.00 5.40 4.40 10 Footbridge Baze 19.00 7.60 5 You Know I Know Maldonado 4.40 Winning Time: 1:41.00 $1 Exacta 11-10 95.60 $2 Quinella 10-11 111.60 $1 Trifecta 11-10-5 676.80 $1 Superfecta 11-10-5-3 3,610.50 Results Chart

Left: Fed Biz in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Bob Baffert said, "I knew he was going to run really well. He had been training like a monster and he has always been that kind of horse. He really loves this track and gets over it pretty well. I was so happy to win the San Diego because it has always been a race that has eluded me here. I had to win a couple (Kentucky) Derbies before I could win the San Diego Handicap."

Right: Fed Biz in the paddock before the race. Jockey Martin Garcia said, "He was running, right from the start. I broke from the outside and went right to the front and right to the rail. The rail has been good, so I wanted to get there. He was running easy up front for me; nice and relaxed. When I went for home, he was strong. He's a really good horse. There's no doubt about that. And I had something left in the tank at the end. I think he'll run farther."

Left: Second place finisher Footbridge returns after the race. Jockey Tyler Baze said, "I had a beautiful trip. He's a nice horse and I had a lot of horse under me today. I'd worked him up at Santa Anita and he sure felt good. He's a runner. I'm glad I've got a chance to ride him."

Right: Third place finisher You Know I Know in the paddock before the race. Jockey Edwin Maldonado said, "There was no pace in the race. I was up closer than I wanted to be and I sort of snuck up inside. I had to get up there. The winner – he just ran away. He walked the dog."

Fourth place finisher and beaten favorite Frac Daddy in the paddock before the race. The 2-1 favorite raced 5th early 4 lengths off the pace under new jockey Joe Talamo, then passed one horse late to get fourth beaten 6 3/4 lengths. The Ken McPeek trainee has a record of 5 wins, 6 seconds, and 0 thirds in 18 starts, earning $686,036 for owner Magic City Thoroughbred Partners.

Go West Marie wins the Fleet Treat Stakes

Results Chart

Go West Marie in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Eddie Truman said, "This is my first Del Mar stakes win. I've been coming here for 44 years. It feels fantastic. The main thing is to do it for Mr. (owner Peter) Redekop. He's the one who steps up and takes the chance and he's given me some very good horses. And it's nice to have a world class rider like Kent Desormeaux, that helps you relax. He came by this morning and said 'You want to talk?' I said, 'Are you kidding, you're riding her.'"

Jockey Kent Desormeaux said, "That was a little hairy out there. She tried to make the gap. She had her mind set on getting there. Good thing I had full hold of her. She tried, but I was able to move her over a couple of paths and get it going in the right direction. She's a tough little thing. When we went for home, I had (Wonderful Life) come up alongside and challenge. But I felt good. My filly had one ear pointing straight ahead to where we were going and the other one turned toward that other filly. As long as she had that other one measured, I knew we'd be all right."

Back to Horse-Races.Net main page