Epaulette Filly Upends Del Mar Oaks

Dismissed at odds of 19-1, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Red Lark (Ire) (Epaulette {Aus}) rallied into the stretch and stormed down the center of the track to pull the upset in the GI Del Mar Oaks. California-bred California Kook (Boisterous) came with a barnstorming run from last to round out the exacta ahead of fellow Cal-bred Warren's Showtime (Clubhouse Ride) in third.

Red Lark settled slightly worse than centerfield, with cover on the back of Warren's Showtime, as favored Laura's Light (Constitution) set the pace in advance of Parkour (Carpe Diem). Following the every move of Warren's Showtime around the turn while remaining in her slipstream, Red Lark was pulled out to deliver her challenge in upper stretch. Laura's Light took them into the lane, but was quickly out of gas, as Warren's Showtime shot to the lead. But Red Lark had that move covered as well and finished well for the victory.

“Out of the gate, we had the perfect spot,” commented winning jockey Drayden Van Dyke. “I wanted to follow Mike Smith [on Warren's Showtime], because I thought his filly would be the one to beat. I knew my filly had a good chance because she was really fit. We got bottled up in her last race. Today, she got to run and she showed how good she is.”

A five-start maiden and placed once while under the care of former jockey Johnny Murtagh in Ireland, Red Lark broke through in her second appearance in this country in February and made three starts in stakes company. Fifth to Warren's Showtime in the Mar. 7 China Doll S. at Santa Anita, she was fourth to Laura's Light in the GIII Honeymoon S. May 30 and a very good second to the classy Toinette (Scat Daddy) when trying older females in the GIII Wilshire S. June 20. The bay was a closing third to Carpe Vinum (Carpe Diem) and California Kook in a first-level allowance at this track July 12.

Saturday, Del Mar
DEL MAR OAKS-GI, $252,500, Del Mar, 8-22, 3yo, f, 1 1/8mT, 1:48.64, fm.
1–RED LARK (IRE), 122, f, 3, by Epaulette (Aus)
                1st Dam: Firecrest (Ire) (SW-Eng), by Darshaan (GB)
                2nd Dam: Trefoil (Fr), by Blakeney (GB)
                3rd Dam: First Bloom (GB), by Primera (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I
   WIN. (€14,000 RNA Ylg '18 GOFFEB; €12,000 RNA Ylg '18
TIRSEP). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Mrs S. M. Rogers
& Sir Thomas Pilkington (IRE); T-Patrick Gallagher; J-Drayden
Van Dyke. $150,000. Lifetime Record: 12-2-2-1, $225,000.
*1/2 to All Set To Go (IRE) (Verglas (IRE)), GSP-Ire, $132,876.
Werk Nick Rating: C. 
   Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–California Kook, 122, f, 3, by Boisterous
                1st Dam: Kukaluka, by Comic Strip
                2nd Dam: Ms. Booty, by Roar
                3rd Dam: Star Lane, by Cahill Road
O/B-Wachtel Stable & Gary Barber (CA); T-Peter Miller.
$50,000.
3–Warren's Showtime, 122, f, 3, by Clubhouse Ride
                1st Dam: Warren's Veneda, by Affirmative
                2nd Dam: More Cal Bread, by Flying Continental
                3rd Dam: Nature's Way, by Nain Bleu (Fr)
O-Benjamin C. & Sally Warren; B-Benjamin C. Warren (CA);
T-Craig Anthony Lewis. $30,000.
Margins: 1, HF, 1. Odds: 19.10, 27.20, 3.90.
Also Ran: Neige Blanche (Fr), Carpe Vinum, Laura's Light, Guitty (Fr), Parkour, Miss Extra (Fr), Aqua Seaform Shame. Scratched: Trickle In. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

Pedigree Notes:

Red Lark is the second worldwide Grade I winner for her sire by Commands {Aus}) and becomes his 10th graded winner and 14th black-type winner. For the legendary Darshaan, Red Lark is the 47th GI/G1SW out of one of his daughters, a list that includes Breeders' Cup winners High Chaparral (Ire), Islington (Ire) and Dank (GB). Red Lark is the 234th BTW and 135th GSW for Darshaan as a broodmare sire.