The much-anticipated FanDuel Racing Fall Turf Festival is set to take place next weekend, marking an exciting finale to the 12th Bing Crosby season at Del Mar. The event will feature seven turf races over the final weekend, attracting some of the best turf horses nationwide.
Several horses have already arrived at Del Mar’s seaside track, with more expected to arrive soon. Trainer Graham Motion from Fairhill, Maryland, brought a group to compete in the Breeders’ Cup and left several at Del Mar for the Fall Turf Festival. Motion’s assistant trainer, Alice Clapham, shared that Test Score will compete in the G1 Hollywood Derby, while Proton is entered in the G3 Cecil B. DeMille.
Motion’s G2 Yellow Ribbon winner Heredia arrived on Wednesday and is set to be honored as the G1 matriarch on November 30th, the festival’s closing day. Like Motion, several out-of-town trainers have made the fall turf festival a regular event. Del Mar Racing Secretary David Jerkens noted, “Chad Brown is going to send some cars.”
Brown, who has a strong history of success at the festival, will bring Just Aluf for the G3 Jimmy Durante on Saturday and Salamis for the G1 Hollywood Derby. He has also designated Segesta as the matriarch. Canadian trainer Michael Stidham will enter Tom’s Magic, one of the nation’s top three-year-olds, in the Derby, while New York-based Todd Pletcher will send Noble Confessor to the Hollywood Derby.
Other trainers monitoring the festival include Miguel Clement, who named Ozala and Breathaway as matriarchs. Brittany Russell from Maryland is bringing her 2-year-old filly Sweet Little Lila to the G3 Jimmy Durante. William Walden is considering Aussie Girl as a potential dam, as is trainer Saffie Joseph with his mare In Our Time. Wesley Ward is exploring No Nay Hudson as a candidate for the Storm Liberal Party.
Jonathan Thomas, who stables several horses in California, aims to replicate his previous success at last year’s Fall Turf Festival when he traveled from Kentucky and won three races. Reflecting on last year, Thomas said, “Everything went perfectly last year—every wind, every gallop, every school, every race. This year has been a different story, so we’re going to do the best we can.” In a promising sign, Thomas and Mrs. Astor claimed the G3 Red Carpet on Sunday for the second consecutive year. Truly Quality is scheduled for Friday’s G2 Hollywood Turf Cup.
Fan Take: The Fall Turf Festival is a climactic event that showcases top turf talent from across the country, offering horse racing fans thrilling competition and the chance to witness future stars in action. Its growing prestige and strong participation from elite trainers could significantly boost the sport’s profile and excitement heading into the winter season.
