BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Graded stakes-placed Acknowledgemeplz will make his first start since unplaced in the US$1.5 million Saudi Derby presented by ZOOD Realty (Group 3) in February as the Florida-bred ridgling is set for Friday’s $100,000 Let It Ride Stakes at Del Mar. Trained by Doug O’Neill, Acknowledgemeplz has drawn post four in the field of ten 3-year-olds entered to go one mile on the turf.
Acknowledgemeplz was a three-quarters of a length winner of a maiden special weight in his second career start last year at Santa Anita then completed his juvenile year with a fourth in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity going a mile-and-a-sixteenth in December.
He began his sophomore year with a third in the seven-furlong San Vincente (G2) at Santa Anita on January 10 before traveling to King Abdulaziz Race Course in Riyadh for the one-mile Saudi Derby. With Flavien Prat riding in the Saudi Derby, Acknowledgemeplz raced up close on the rail just behind leader Obliteration but dropped back around the turn to finish seventh behind winner Al Haram (Ire).
Acknowledgemeplz has earned $84,000 for owners Jeanie Buss, in the name of her Purple Rein Racing, and Mark D. Davis, winning once with a second and a third in five starts. Bloodstock agent Stephen W. Rothblum purchased Acknowledgemeplz for the owners, paying $75,000 at last year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale where he was consigned by Sergio Centeno Blue River Bloodstock.
He is by Bucchero out of Starship Fantasy, by Yes It’s True and was bred in Florida by Helen and Joseph Barbazon of Morriston.
An out-of-state victory in the non-graded stakes by Acknowledgemeplz would garner a $4,000 Export Incentive for the Barbazons paid by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Emisael Jaramillo will get a leg up on Acknowledgemeplz and they are 6-1 on the morning line.
Jordi Bear (Ire) seeks his first victory in four starts since coming stateside earlier this year from his native Ireland where he won the Kildare House Hotel Handicap going seven furlongs on the turf at The Curragh in September of last year.
Third in the nine-furlong Del Mar Derby (G2) on the grass on August 23, Jordi Bear has one start since, finishing second to He’s a Knockout in a first condition, $80,000 optional claiming going a mile on the Santa Anita turf on September 25.
Jordi Bear is owned by Glen Hill Farm, Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stables LLC and William Strauss and has won one of nine career starts with two seconds and a third, earning $96,396.
He is a gelded son of St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) out of Woody Creek (GB), by Zoffany (Ire) and will be ridden by Joel Rosario from two and is the 3-1 program favorite.
Two fillies have entered the Let It Ride in 7-2 second choice Green Carrera (GB) and 20-1 shot Wild West Coast.
Green Carrrera has one start in the United States, when finishing fourth, just two-and-a-half lengths off winner Tam Tam in the mile-and-an-eighth Del Mar Oaks (G1) on the grass on August 22.
She won three of seven starts in Europe including the US$158,500 Sandringham Handicap going a mile on the lawn at Ascot in June and a one-mile Handicap at The Curragh in May. Her last start there was second to Meriden (GB) racing nine furlongs at Killarney in July.
Green Carrera is trained by Leonard Powell for Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Racing, Farfellow Farms and Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners.
She is by Lope de Vega (Ire) out of Fool For You (Ire), by Lawnman (Fr) and has earned $165,838 from three wins and two seconds in eight starts.
Umberto Rispoli has the call on Green Carrera from post eight.
Wild West Coast, a daughter of Mo Forza, exits a length-and-a-quarter score in a first condition, $20,000 optional claiming going six furlongs on the grass at Santa Anita on October 10.
Jockey Antonio Ayuso will take her from post 10.
Completing the field are Tailgunner Joe with Jamie Spencer named to ride, Tap the Gin will team with Kazushi Kimura, Mike Smith has the mount on Ocean Bear, Juan Hernadez gets the call on Pavloian, Matt at Five will have Hector Berrios in the irons and Drayden Van Dyke will take the reins on Deucari.
Return to the November 5 issue of Wire to Wire
