Mixto gets former jockey back for Saturday’s Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar – elcajon newson Elcajon News only

DEL MAR — Pacific Classic long shot champion Mixto completes his 2024 season Saturday in the last dirt stakes race of Del Mar’s fall meeting.

Mixto, who more recently ran 11th here Nov. 2 in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, is the early second-favorite among six older horses entered in the $100,000 Grade III Native Diver Stakes.

Mixto will carry the high weight of 125 pounds in the 1⅛-mile race. But he will have a hot hand back in the saddle in Antonio Fresu.

Fresu, who took the lead in the fall jockey standings by winning three straight races Friday, had been aboard Mixto for seven straight races before Kyle Frey rode the 4-year-old son of Good Magic in both the Pacific Classic and Breeders’ Cup Classic.

A 22-to-1 long shot, Mixto ran down Full Serrano in the stretch to win the Pacific Classic.

Trainer Doug O’Neill called the Breeders’ Cup Classic a tough spot for Mixto.

“The race was the best of the best,” said O’Neill. “It just wasn’t his day. Fortunately, he came out of it in good shape.”

Mixto is the narrow 5-2 second-favorite to Ultra Power (2-1, Juan Hernandez) in the Native Diver. Tarantino (Edwin Maldonado, 3-1) is the third pick.

Trainer Bob Baffert will have Mirahmadi and Ultra Power in the field as he seeks a fourth straight Native Diver win. A 3-year-old son of Curlin, Ultra Power scored a seven-length win in a Aug. 31 allowance race at Del Mar.

Long shot scores

Miz Clubcall, a 24-1 bomber, rallied from fifth in the stretch and ran down favorite Wishtheyallcouldbe near the finish to win Friday’s feature. Armando Ayuso scored his second straight win (also Freya, $10, in the sixth) with Miz Clubcall ($50) while denying Fresu a fourth win on the afternoon.

Thanks to Miz Clubcall, one winner claimed a Pick Six worth $39,114. The Pick Five paid $11,344.

Notable

Breaking from the inside post in her first career start, Scroll Up threw jockey Tiago Pereira as she crashed through the inside portable rail shortly after the start of the sixth race. The 2-year-old filly ran inside and parallel to the rail along the backstretch, then turned deeper into the infield after reaching the turf chute. She was later brought under control by a worker after running across the asphalt. Scroll Up was uninjured.

•Great call by track announcer Larry Collmus as Rosa Parks opened up a solid lead in the stretch of Friday’s second race: “Rose Parks found the front and she’s not moving,” Collmus said of the horse named for the icon of the civil rights movement.

• Frey drew a three-day suspension (Nov. 29-Dec. 1) for failing to maintain a straight course aboard Jimmy Blue Jeans in last Sunday’s third race. Jimmy Blue Jeans won the race, but was disqualified and placed second after forcing Sarwar wide in the stretch.

• Fresu’s three wins Friday were aboard Rosa Parks ($4.40), Touchdown Brown ($4.20 in the third) and Caribbean King ($11.20 in the fourth). He now leads with 11 wins during the fall meeting to 10 for Umberto Rispoli. Defending champion Juan Hernandez and Pereira are tied for third with eight wins apiece.

• Meanwhile, Mark Glatt picked up one win Friday (Touchdown Brown) to give him eight for the meeting and a two-race lead over Phil D’Amato, who had two wins Friday – Rosa Parks and Sbagliato (Rispoli, $5.20, in the eighth).

Originally Published: November 22, 2024 at 4:29 PM PST