By Joe Bianca
The first three across the wire in a rough-and-tumble renewal of Del Mar's GIII La Jolla H. which resulted in a disqualification will have another go at each other in a full-gate 14-horse renewal of the GII Del Mar Derby Saturday at the seaside oval.
A nose in front at the line in the La Jolla was Yuesheng Zhang's Sword Zorro (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), but his errant path was guaranteed to cost him and he ended up placed third. Prior to that, the bay captured the Singletary S. Apr. 25 at Santa Anita and was second in the Cinema S. there May 23. Elevated into the victory was Red Barons Barn and Rancho Temescal's Zoffarelli (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who was making his North American debut after winning just one of seven starts–albeit with five seconds–in Great Britain. Bumped up from third to second was rail-drawn Hudson Ridge (American Pharoah). Breaking his maiden in the Cinema, he had repeated in an Arcadia allowance/optional claimer June 18 before being bounced around and cost a chance at the victory as the 17-10 favorite in the La Jolla.
The top four horses from a blanket finish in the local Oceanside S. return here as well. Flashiest (Mizzen Mast) rallied from last to first to get up by a head at 12-1, continuing an ascent from starting his career against $30,000 maiden optional claimers at Turf Paradise, but the gelding was rank early and retreated to last when shipped across the country for a try in the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational S. last out. Hronis Racing's Crew Dragon (Exaggerator) was runner-up in the Columbia S. earlier this year for Bill Mott and followed up his second in the Oceanside with a local allowance/optional claiming score Aug. 12. Third was 39-1 longshot No Foolery Here (Carpe Diem), making his first start against winners after breaking his maiden on the Santa Anita turf May 29, while Hockey Dad (Nyquist), second to Crew Dragon Aug. 12, filled the superfecta, beaten just a half-length.
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