Rail Trip to compete at Del Mar after a big gap in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap
The seven-year-old, Rail Trip, will race at Del Mar after nearly three years, and hope for redemption. He will compete in the Grade 2, $200,000 San Diego Handicap which covers a distance of 1 1/16 miles on 28th July, 2012.
The runner previously competed at this track on 6th September, 2009, when he ran in the 1 1/4 mile Grade 1, Pacific Classic, where he finished third to winner, Richard's Kid and runner-up, Einstein.
Ronald Ellis has been taking care of the runner for the past seven months, who was shipped east. He was temporarily trained by Rick Dutrow Jr. but is now coming back to the track. The trainer stated:
“We’re going in with high hopes and no expectations,” Ellis said. “If he is his old self, he’ll win. I’m just concerned about him and not worried about anybody else in the race.”
Over the course of his career, the son of Jump Start has not been incredibly lucky but, seems to be in decent form as he finished as a runner-up to John Scott in an Allowance Optional Claimer at the Betfair Hollywood Park in June, 2012, which ran over
a distance of 1 1/16 miles.
Racing at the familiar distance over the synthetic surface should definitely work in his favour. The older division runner has not been able to score in his last eight starts since June, 2010.
Provided the Kentucky-bred runner wins, he will earn an automatic spot in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita Park since this a "Win And You’re In" qualifier.
He will also be entitled an entry in the $1 million Dirt Mile along with travel expenses.
The Jay Em Ess Stable owned runner has seen a fair share of success early in his career, when he notched the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at the Betfair Hollywood Park in July, 2009.
Ellis admitted that getting the runner back is shape has not been an easy task as he said:
“It’s kind of hard to get a line on him to this point, and this race will be a big gauge for us. If he looks good and appears to be rounding back into form we’ll be thinking about the Pacific Classic.”
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