Fifth fatality logged on turf course

By: North County Times | Thursday, August 16, 2007 11:20 PM PDT ∞

Jockey Clinton Potts tumbles off his horse Holly Torque Tango while making the turn for the final stretch on the turf track during the 4th race at the Del Mar Race Track on Thursday.
HAYNE PALMOUR IV Staff Photographer
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Holly Torque Tango became the fifth fatality on the Del Mar turf course during the running of Thursday's fourth race, when she suffered a fractured left cannon bone. Jockey Clinton Potts got up from the spill, walked to the track ambulance, and rode the rest of the program.

Unfortunately, Holly Troque Tango's death was witnessed by many in the crowd, as she was given a lethal injection on the turf course. Even though a screen was up, many saw the 3-year-old filly rear up on her hind legs and fall to the ground after she was euthanzied. The crowd let out a collective gasp after she hit ground.

"They might have botched it, but they had no choice," said Dan Smith, Del Mar's senior media coordinator. "It was the humane thing to do. She couldn't walk to the van. They had to put her out of her misery."

Holly Torque Tango had earned $101,150 in four career starts before Thursday. She was coming off a third-place finish in the Azalea Breeders' Cup at Calder Race Course in Florida. She was trained by Brian Koriner.

There have been four racing deaths and one training death on the turf course. There have been no deaths on the new Polytrack.

Here come the youngsters

Three-year-olds have done quite well in the Pacific Classic ---- Best Pal, General Challenge and Came Home all won the race ---- so it's no surprise that three sophomores will test their elders in Sunday's $1 million race.

Albertus Maximus, Tiago and Time Squared will all be facing older horses for the first time. The big break is that they will only carry 117 pounds in the 1 1/4-mile race, while the other horses have to carry 124 pounds.

Of the three, Tiago is the most accomplished. He won the Santa Anita Derby before finishing seventh in the Kentucky Derby. He came back with a third-place effort in the Belmont Stakes before returning to Hollywood Park, where he beat Albertus Maximus by 2 1/2 lengths in the Swaps on July 14.

Trainer John Sherriffs doesn't mind taking a shot against older horses like Lava Man.

"You always like to have the best horse," Sherriffs said at Wednesday night's post position draw. "Tiago is well campaigned. He's a hard veteran at 3 years old."

Jockey Mike Smith thinks Tiago will do just fine on Sunday.

"I think (Polytrack) suits my horse's style a lot," Smith said. "He settles really nice and comes from off of it at the end.

"We're going to sit and relax and make that one move. He puts himself in the race a little better now than he did in the past, like we saw in the Swaps. I look for that type of race again, and hopefully the same thing will happen."

Trainer Gary Mandella hopes to turn the tables on Tiago with Albertus Maximus.

"I think I've seen a difference in him since we brought him here from Hollywood Park," Mandella said. "I think he handles this track a bit better. That led us to the idea that we wanted to stay home instead of shipping him around.

"I think my horse is a little bit more relaxed than he has been the last few starts. He's a tall, 17 hands horse, which means he has a big, long stride. He's not the kind of horse that can get stopped a couple of times in races and come up with a 22 (second) quarter the last part of the race and save himself.

"He's got to be in the clear a little bit. He has to be able to put a sustained run in."

Time Squared is shipping in from the Midwest for trainer Patrick Biancone. The son of Fusaichi Pegasus finished second to Pavarotti in the July 14 Round Table on Arlington Park's Polytrack. Time Squared broke his maiden on Keeneland's Polytrack, so the trainer is looking for his third synthetic track victory.

Around the track

+ As expected, jockey Corey Nakatani took off all his mounts Thursday after being thrown from his mount in the paddock before Wednesday's seventh race. Agent Craig O'Bryan said Nakatani complained of a sore left shoulder, and he was unsure if Nakatani would ride today. Nakatani has the mount on 5-2 morning-line favorite Lava Man in Sunday's Pacific Classic.

+ Trainers Michael Machowsky and Paul Aguirre were fined $300 each by track stewards after their horses had to be declared late scratches in races earlier in the meet.

+ Masterpiece ($30.20), the longest shot on the board, won the featured $85,000-added Harry F. Brubaker Handicap. Masterpiece covered the 1 1/16 miles on the turf course in one minute, 40.43 seconds for trainer Peter Eurton.

---- Jeff Nahill

Jeff Nahill's spot play

In Excess has always been one of our favorite sires, especially with first-time starters, and today we get Mr. Excessive (No. 9) in the fourth race. Trainer Doug O'Neill is hot, having won two more races Thursday, so let's hope he has this one cranked up. Bet $22 to win and a $2 reverse exacta key with him on the bottom ($18).

Today's wager: $40

Thursday's result: Minus $40

Season result: Minus $340.40