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Pacific Classic Day Pat O'Brien Stakes King's Plate results Del Mar Oaks Yellow Ribbon &Sorrento |
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 Unique Bella schools from the starting gate. |
Thursday morning was brighter still than previously this week, but still overcast until nearly noon when the sun finally came out. It was in the 60's early but warmed up to the 70's around noon. The last of the quarantine horses were released so it was the Aidan O'Brien show most of the late morning as they came out, walked a bit then jogged. Arrogate came out really early and I almost missed him, although as horrid as my shot was I may as well have missed him, but he came out to school during the second race so we waited for that.
Here are photos for 33 of the horses on the track Thursday morning or schooling in the paddock, mostly different from the first three days. Click the small picture to see a larger version.
 
Arrogate (Classic) galloped twice around under exercise rider Dana Barnes, and then schooled in the paddock during the 2nd race Thursday afternoon. Trainer Bob Baffert said, “The surface (during the San Diego Handicap) was weird. It’s not like that at all (now). They had just put in a new track. But he was way behind and you couldn’t do that. You had to be up close. He still could have run better, but I think a lot of it is the way I prepared him. I take the blame for him getting beat the first time. The second time, it looked like he wasn’t going to run and all of a sudden he started running at the end. I think he should run well.”
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Churchill (Classic) walked 1 mile and jogged 1 mile under jockey Donnacha O'Brien. Trainer Aidan O'Brien said, “We were very happy
with his run at Ascot last time. He did not get the greatest of runs and got stopped twice over a furlong
out. We were very pleased with that performance, and as long as we were happy with the horse after the
race, it was always a possibility that we would come for the Classic.”
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Collected (Classic) galloped twice around under exercise rider Augustine Laura and then schooled in the paddock during the afternoon's second race. Trainer Bob Baffert said, "This (track) is made for a horse like Collected or Gun Runner, where they can get out there and their speed is dangerous. They can zip around those turns. Gun Runner is the horse to beat.”
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War Decree (Classic) also galloped once around the track much like his stablemate Churchill.
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West Coast (Classic) galloped twice around under exercise rider Dana Barnes. Trainer Bob Baffert said, "I would never have dreamt that I was going to be a horse trainer. Maybe a Quarter Horse trainer, because I loved Quarter Horses. But being a Thoroughbred trainer? I never thought about that. That’s a whole different league, a whole different level. It’s like being in the majors."
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Alluring Star (Juvenile Fillies) galloped on the main track.
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Birdie Gold (Filly and Mare Turf) went out for morning exercise on Thursday.
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Calculator (Sprint) put in some light work in advance of his World Championships run.
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Carina Mia (Filly and Mare Sprint) schooled in the paddock during the first race Thursday afternoon.
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Cliffs of Moher (Turf) jogged and galloped once around along with the rest of the Aidan O'Brien stable.
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Drefong (Sprint) schooled in the paddock during the 2nd race for trainer Bob Baffert alongside stablemates Arrogate and Collected.
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Fanciful Angel (Turf) went out for a jog and gallop for trainer Chad Brown, and then schooled in the paddock during the second race.
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Finest City (Filly and Mare Sprint) galloped on the main track.
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Firenze Fire (Juvenile) experienced a spike to 101.6 F after arriving at Del Mar. This morning the thermometer read 101.3 and he was sent out to gallop under exercise rider Garrett Servis, son of trainer Jason. Jason Servis breathed a sign of relief, and said, "The blood work came back clean. He looks good today and feels good. Everything seems to be OK and we're on for Saturday's race.”
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Goodyearforroses (Filly and Mare Turf) galloped on the turf. Trainer Richard Baltas said, “I’d like to see her back off the pace. The last time (8th in the Rodeo Drive), I put blinkers on her and she was a little too keen and too close to the pace. The blinkers are
coming off for this.”
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Happily (Juvenile Fillies Turf) was reluctant at first to go out on to the track with her O'Brien stablemates but once led out on to the main track by one of the outriders all seemed well.
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Highland Reel (Turf) was first out and walked a circuit and a half of the track before going a gentle canter. All of the O’Brien team followed a similar pattern and all looked extremely well in their coats, but did look sweaty.
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Kitten's Roar (Filly and Mare Turf) is the first also-eligible and will need a scratch by Friday morning to draw in.
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Lancaster Bomber (Mile) went out for a steady gallop along with the rest of the O'Brien string.
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Mendelssohn (Juvenile Turf) walked a circuit and a half of the track before going a gentle canter.
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Moonshine Memories (Juvenile Fillies) galloped 1 1/2 mile Thursday as she moved closer to race day.
Trainer Simon Callaghan said, “What we need to do is just keep her happy and keep her energy up.”
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Paulassilverlining (Filly and Mare Sprint) schooled in the paddock during the first race for trainer Chad Brown
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Rhododendron (Filly and Mare Turf) walked a circuit and a half of the
track before going a gentle canter. All of the O’Brien team followed a similar pattern.
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Roly Poly (Mile) walked a circuit and a half of the
track before going a gentle canter. All of the O’Brien team followed a similar pattern.
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Separationofpowers (Juvenile Fillies) schooled in the paddock during the first race for trainr Chad Brown.
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September (Juvenile Fillies Turf) walked a circuit and a half of the
track before going a gentle canter. All of the O’Brien team followed a similar pattern.
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Seventh Heaven (Turf) walked a circuit and a half of the
track before going a gentle canter. All of the O’Brien team followed a similar pattern.
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Solomini (Juvenile) schooled in the paddock during the first race for trainer Bob Baffert.
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Stormy Liberal (Turf Sprint) galloped once around the main track.
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Suedois (Mile) ) looked in great shape as he cantered around the turf and Fergal Davis who has
been overseeing Suedois’ preparation in the absence of trainer David O’Meara could not be more pleased. “He is really well in himself and I am happy, happy, happy. He will love the track and I don’t
think he has been in better shape. I think he has got a great chance on Saturday.” Davis said.
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The Tabulator (Juvenile) was out Thursday morning to gallop once around.
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U.S. Navy Flag (Juvenile) walked and jogged around two laps of the track, while audibly complaining as he passed the crowd of fans and media at the end of the stretch.
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Washington DC (Turf Sprint) walked a circuit and a half of the
track before going a gentle canter. All of the O’Brien team followed a similar pattern.
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