Gonzalez has right Velocity to win the Grade I Del Mar Oaks

DEL MAR — Deep in the stretch, heavy favorites Thought Process and Lush Lips were battling side-by-side Saturday afternoon for a Grade I stakes victory.

But jockey Ricardo Gonzalez and Velocity had other ideas.

The 35-to-1 longshot came flying up the inside to win the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks – a 1 1/8-mile turf test for 3-year-old fillies – by a half-length over Lush Lips with Thought Process another three-quarters of a length back in third.

The biggest takeway: Velocity, a daughter of Nyquist who is managed by the same team that controls Journalism – trainer Michael McCarthy and primary owner Aron Wellman and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners – certainly didn’t look like a 35-1 longshot.

“She’s had a wonderful couple of weeks down here,” said McCarthy, who singled out Gonzalez following the jockey’s second win of the day and first stakes win of the meeting.

“That’s as good of a ride as you’ll ever see,” McCarthy said of Gonzalez. “I thought Velocity got the perfect trip there. A seam opened up on the fence. I liked everything I saw today.”

Including Velocity’s attitude before her first graded stakes win.

“She was on her toes in a great way, walking around the paddock, coming out through the tunnel,” said McCarthy.

Gonzalez, who has been aboard Velocity in all five of her races, always thought she would be a better dirt horse. But after finishing fifth in her debut on the dirt at Santa Anita in February, McCarthy switched her to turf and she has won three of four starts since.

“I had a wonderful trip,” Gonzalez said of the Oaks victory. “I followed Edge of Mali (Antonio Fresu) all the way around waiting for a little seam. Once I saw it, she went right through it. This is such a fun race to race, especially here in Del Mar.”

Thought Process (Umberto Rispoli) had moved past the fading Casalu to take the lead in the stretch. Lush Lips (Tyler Gaffalione) moved up outside from fifth in the stretch. But neither was any match for Velocity’s charge.

Stars work out

Two colts whom everyone hopes will headline the Pacific Classic on Aug. 30 worked out Saturday morning.

Journalism covered four furlongs in 48 seconds. Nysos ran seven furlongs in 1:24.60.

Trainers for both horses were pleased.

“He worked very well,” McCarthy said of Journalism, who won the Preakness and the Haskell Stakes and finished second in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. “He got into a nice rhythm and showed good energy throughout.”

“We were just turning up the dials on him,” Wellman said of Journalism, who hasn’t been committed to the Pacific Classic as Wellman and McCarthy weigh several options.

Nysos, the winner of the Grade II San Diego Handicap earlier in the summer meeting, was on the track just before Journalism.

“He’s getting closer,” trainer Bob Baffert said of Nysos.

“I wanted a strong workout from him, so we gave it to him. He needed it and he will benefit from that.”

Baffert has pointed Nysos to the Pacific Classic.

Smile on Sunday

Grand Slam Smile (William Antongeorgi III) is the narrow favorite over defending race champion Moment’s Pleasure (Juan Hernandez) in Sunday’s feature race – the $150,000 Solana Beach Stakes – a one-mile turf race for older Cal-bred fillies and mares.

Grand Slam Smile is a 4-year-old daughter of Smiling Tiger, who finished second to Medoro in the Osunitas Stakes on opening weekend. She has competed on dirt and grass and was the champion Cal-bred 2-year-old filly in 2023.

Notable

Two more prized 2-year-old colts from the Baffert stable ran 1-2 Saturday in a maiden race. Even-money favorite Litmus Test (Juan Hernandez) won with Falcon Jet (Mike Smith) second. Litmus Test, a son of Nyquist, was a $875,000 purchase in April. Falcon, a son of Justify, brought $750,000.

• Two lengthy losing streaks ended in the same race Friday afternoon. Last Call Paul’s victory in the seventh race was his first in 26 career starts. And winning jockey Edwin Maldonado was 0-for-43 at Del Mar this meeting going into the race.

• Jockey Hector Berrios was uninjured after being thrown by his mount, Vancougar, leaving the gate in Saturday’s second race, which was run at 5 furlongs on the turf.