By Bloodhorse.com
DEL MAR, Calif. (Sept. 7, 2020) –Northern California Yearling Sale graduate Big Fish made the step up from maiden ranks to win the $102,500 Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes Sept. 7 at Del Mar. The Mr. Big gelding ridden by Victor Espinoza completed the mile over firm turf in 1:38.21.
Big Fish was bred in California by George Krikorian. He is the second foal out of the stakes-placed Into Mischief mare Perched, who also has a yearling colt by Mr. Big named Big Splash. Legacy Ranch purchased Big Fish for $45,000 from the Harris Farms consignment to the 2019 California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Northern California Yearling Sale.
Big Fish sat off the pace in sixth as the favorite Get Her Number set fractions of :24, :49.32, and 1:14.71 through six furlongs. Get Her Number was pressed by Ambivalent. Big Fish reaced in between rivals at the three-eighths pole then was angled three wide on the far turn. The gelding lugged out, then lugged back in, and was able to hold off late-running Ebeko for a length victory.
“I had a good trip. The only problem I had was on the far turn when I dropped my hands just a bit and he took off,” Espinoza said. “He almost ran up on the heels of the horse in front of us. But I checked him and wheeled him out. He swerved just a bit in the stretch, but nothing big. You know the kind he is; if they make the lead they get lonely out there and they want to wait for other ones to come and play.”
Ebeko came from last to finish second. Ambivalent was third and Get Her Number fourth.
Big Fish paid $11.40, $6.20, and $4.20 across the board.
Trained by David Hofmans, the dark bay broke his maiden last out Aug. 21 over the same course and distance after switching from the dirt. He has earned $109,000 from a 2-1-1 record in four starts.
“After his work the other day I was confident. I thought he was coming into this race peak perfect and we had planned for this race a long time ago,” Hofmans said. “I absolutely thought he would do well on the turf. He’s bred for the turf and he showed in his last race he’s a different horse on the turf.”