Four San Luis Rey horses win on Opening Day at Del Mar

Four horses stabled at the San Luis Rey Training Center won races on Opening Day of this year's Del Mar Thoroughbred Club summer meet July 10.

Aqua Seaform Shame was the winner of the second race; Polar Wind won the fifth race; Righteously finished first in the sixth race, and the 10-race card concluded with Julius defeating the rest of the competition.

The second race was a five-furlong turf race for fillies and mares 3 years old and upward. Aqua Seaform Shame, who is trained by Richard Baltas, was one of six horses in the race. Aqua Seaform Shame and jockey Ruben Fuentes broke fourth.

Two San Luis Rey fillies trained by Peter Miller were also in that race. Three-year-old Mean Sophia, one of Miller's horses, had the lead 3/16 of a mile into the race. Aqua Seaform Shame was fourth, five lengths behind Mean Sophia; Miller's other horse, 4-year-old Seaside Dancer, was at the back of the pack although only 6 1/2 lengths behind Mean Sophia.

Mean Sophia still led 3/8 of a mile into the race Aqua Seaform Shame had moved up to third, two lengths in back of Mean Sophia and a length behind second-place Samskara.

Rakassah, who is trained by Richard Baltas but is not one of Baltas' San Luis Rey horses, had the lead entering the stretch She led Mean Sophia by a head Aqua Seaform Shame was in third, a head in back of Mean Sophia and a length in front of fourth-place Seaside Dancer.

Aqua Seaform Shame passed both Mean Sophia and Rakassah in the stretch She finished 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Rakassah and had a winning time of 56.67 seconds Seaside Dancer was third, a neck behind Rakassah Mean Sophia was the fifth horse across the finish line and was 3 3/4 lengths behind Aqua Seaform Shame.

Calvin Nguyen owns Aqua Seaform Shame, who was sired by Kantharos out of Chandeleur Aqua Seaform Shame was foaled in Florida Jan. 28, 2017.

The race was the first for Aqua Seaform Shame since Nov. 15, when she broke her maiden by winning a five-furlong turf race during the Del Mar fall meet The July 10 race was her fourth career race, and the $30,600 first-place share of the total $51,500 purse brought her career winnings to $75,960.

Polar Wind, who is trained by Clifford Sise, ran a one-mile dirt race. The colt and jockey Evin Roman broke fourth among the nine horses. A quarter of a mile into the race, Polar Wind was fourth, 1 1/2 lengths in back of leader Mongolian Legend and half a length in back of Zorich.

The top four horses (including second-place Bud Knight) maintained their same margins at the half-mile point, although Polar Wind had expanded his lead over fifth-place Show Business from one length to 1 1/2 lengths. Ronamo and jockey Flavien Prat moved from seventh at half a mile to first three-quarters of a mile past the starting gate while Zorich had moved into second and Mongolian Legend had dropped to third. Polar Wind was still fourth, 2 1/2 lengths behind Ronamo and a length behind Zorich.

When the horses entered the stretch, Ronamo had a two-length lead over Zorich, who was a head in front of Polar Wind. The distance between Polar Wind and fourth-place Claim of Passion was 3 1/2 lengths.

Ronamo and Polar Wind bumped while in the stretch, although a stewards' inquiry determined that both horses were responsible for the contact and upheld the final on-track result. Polar Wind finished three-quarters of a length ahead of Ronamo and six lengths in front of Zorich, who crossed the finish line in third place. The winning time was 1:38.67.

Polar Wind was foaled in Kentucky April 5, 2017. He was sired by Super Saver out of Wind Gust. Martin and Pam Wygod own Polar Wind and were also his breeders.

The victory was the second in three career races for Polar Wind. He won a 6 1/2-furlong dirt race May 24 at Santa Anita Park and made his racing debut March 7 at Santa Anita. The Del Mar race had a total purse of $33,000 including $18,600 for first place which brought Polar Wind's career earnings to $33,950.

Ed Freeman is the trainer of Righteously, who was ridden by Mario Gutierrez in the five-furlong dirt race for 2-year-old California-bred fillies who had not previously won a race. The 10-horse field included two other San Luis Rey fillies; Miller trains Taming the Tigress and Dan Dunham is the trainer of Valentine Ghost.

Righteously and Gutierrez broke fourth, and after 3/16 of a mile they were in fourth 1 1/2 lengths in back of leader Smoothlikebuttah and half a length behind third-place Big Andy. Taming the Tigress was fifth at that point, half a length behind Righteously and a length in front of Valentine Ghost. Taming the Tigress and Prat passed Righteously and Gutierrez and, with 3/8 of a mile completed, Righteously was in fifth place, two lengths behind Smoothlikebuttah and a head in back of Taming the Tigress.

Smoothlikebuttah still held the lead as the horses entered the stretch, but Righteously was in second at that point, a head behind Smoothlikebuttah and a head in front of third-place Miz Lola La Dare. Righteously took the lead in the stretch and won the race by a half-length margin over Big Andy. His winning time was 1:00.26.

Taming the Tigress finished fourth, 1 3/4 lengths behind Righteously and half a length in back of third-place Luxury Liner. Valentine Ghost was the seventh finisher and was 9 1/2 lengths behind Righteously.

Freeman and Reddam Racing, LLC, are the owners and breeders of Righteously, who was foaled in California March 3, 2018; Ocean Breeze Ranch stallion Square Eddie sired Righteously out of Gypsy Friday, who was sired by the late Vessels Stallion Farm horse In Excess.

Righteously also ran five furlongs July 2 at Los Alamitos Race Course and finished eighth among the 10 horses in her only race before breaking her maiden at Del Mar. The Del Mar total purse was $52,500 and first place was worth $30,000.

Julius ran in a 6 1/2-furlong dirt race and was one of 11 horses in that contest. He was ridden by Heriberto Figueroa and was trained by Doug O'Neill. Julius led throughout the race and finished six lengths ahead of second-place Tobacco Road with a winning time of 1:16.69.

Castle Gate was in second when Julius completed the first quarter of a mile 22.29 seconds after the starting gate was opened. Julius held a lead of 1 1/2 lengths over Castle Gate. After half a mile, which took Julius 45.07 seconds, Julius held a two-length lead over second-place Dark Hedges. Julius entered the stretch 1:10.16 after the race began and was four lengths in front of Castle Gate, who had temporarily retaken second place.

The race was a claiming race, and Julius was claimed for $20,000 and will now be part of Miller's barn. Julius was foaled May 24, 2015, in Kentucky and sired by Tapit out of Amen Hallelujah.

The win was the third in 14 career starts for Julius and his first victory since a one-mile dirt race at Del Mar in July 2019. The July 10 race had a $23,000 total purse including a first-place share of $12,000 which brought his total earnings to $94,170.