San Diego, CA
Stay Hot keeps cool to score win in La Jolla Handicap
DEL MAR — Sometimes, a long road trip turns ugly.
Ask Stay Hot. Actually, ask his trainer Peter Eurton.
After three straight wins by a head or neck in Southern California — starting with the Grade III Cecil B. DeMille Stakes at Del Mar last December — Stay Hot was shipped to Churchill Downs last May to compete in the Grade II American Turf on Kentucky Derby Day.
It didn’t go well. Stay Hot finished last in a field of 14.
Sunday, Stay Hot raced for the first time since that defeat and won the $100,000 La Jolla Handicap with a strong stretch run under jockey Antonio Fresu — defeating another 3-year-old seeking redemption in King of Gosford.
“That’s about as good as he’s ever done,” Eurton said of Stay Hot, who finished 1½ lengths ahead of King of Gosford, running the 11/16 miles on the turf in 1:40.98. “Welcome home. He just loves being fresh and he gets back to where he wants to be. He was just not a happy horse in Kentucky.”
Eurton discussed Stay Hot’s ill-fated Kentucky trip before the La Jolla Handicap.
“I don’t think he shipped well,” said the trainer. “Physically, he was fine. But mentally, it was just a little much for him after the three races (in 3½ months). He may have needed some space. And it was hot and humid in Kentucky. He schooled nervous and I don’t think he liked the surface.”
Home, sweet home.
Favorite Final Boss (J.J. Hernandez) took the lead out of the gate, turned back several challenges on the backstretch and was still a head on top entering the stretch. But Stay Hot and King of Gosford (Umberto Rispoli) were moving as Final Boss — who was coming off back-to-back, wire-to-wire wins at Santa Anita — began to fade to fourth.
“He ran his race today,” said Fresu of Stay Hot. “From the outside post (in the field of five), I just wanted to get in a good spot early and get him to relax. He did that. We saved ground. He was ready in the stretch. He’s got that turn of foot and he used it.”
“The ride was perfect, staying on the fence and not trying to go out wide,” Eurton said of Fresu’s efforts.
Meantime, King of Gosford returned just two weeks after placing a disappointing sixth in the Oceanside Stakes on opening day.
Eurton said the Del Mar Derby could be the next stop for the son of Summer Front.
Air’ Tight
Daughters of Stay Thirst ran 1-2-3 in Sunday’s other $100,000 feature — the 5½-furlong California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes for 2-year-old Cal-bred fillies.
Favored In the Air Tonight (Tiago Periera) finished 5¼ lengths in front of Thirsty Mama (Kyle Frey) with Thirsty in Vegas (Fresu) third another 2½ lengths back. The winner and third-place finisher are both trained by Steve Knapp.
The CTBA was the first of 10 stakes races for 2-year-olds at Del Mar during the summer meeting. Three more will be held next weekend with Friday’s Graduation (5½ furlongs for Cal-bred colts and geldings), Saturday’s Grade III Sorrento (six furlongs for fillies) and Sunday’s Grade III Best Pal (a six-furlong prep for the Grade I Del Mar Futurity).
In the Air Tonight ($6.20) surged after running fifth in the field of eight at the three-eighths pole — finishing strong just as she did when overcoming a 2½-length deficit to win her debut at Santa Anita on May 26.
“She didn’t break right, but the way she had been training, we just knew she was going to run a real big race,” Knapp said of In the Air Tonight. “I really wasn’t concerned with the speed. I thought she would be closer, but I knew she had a real good turn of foot.”
“I saw the split in the race and so I tried to get close and she responded,” said Pereira. “I knew she would finish strong.”
Notable
With two wins Sunday, Hernandez leads the jockey standings with 15 wins after eight days of the 31-day summer meeting. Umberto Rispoli is second with 11 and Hector Berrios is third with 10 while Fresu’s two wins Sunday moved him into a tie with Frey for fourth with eight.John Sadler leads the trainer standings with eight wins. Defending champion Phil D’Amato is second with seven and Michael McCarthy, Bob Baffert and Mark Glatt are in a three-way tie for third at six.
Originally Published:
San Diego, CA
Man fatally struck by hit-and-run vehicle in San Diego
A man in the Mission Bay Park community of San Diego was fatally struck Sunday morning by a hit-and run vehicle, authorities said.
The victim was also struck by a second vehicle and that motorist stayed at the scene to cooperate with officers, the San Diego Police Department reported.
The initial crash occurred at about 2:20 a.m. Sunday in the area of West Mission Bay and Sea World drives.
The pedestrian was in the southbound lanes of the 2000 block of West Mission Bay Drive when he was struck by a silver vehicle also in the southbound lanes. That vehicle fled the scene, continuing southbound, police said.
A 28-year-old man driving his vehicle southbound ran over the downed pedestrian.
“That driver remained at the scene and is not DUI,” according to a police statement. “The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene.”
Anyone with information regarding the initial crash was urged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
San Diego, CA
Here are the 9 San Diego County communities that set or tied heat records
San Diego County is known for having wet, cold weather in February. But it had numerous hot spells this year. And when the month ended on Saturday a high pressure system produced heat that broke or tied temperature records in nine communities from the desert to the sea, the National Weather Service said.
The most notable temperature occurred in Borrego Springs, which reached 99, five degrees higher than the previous record for Feb. 28, set in 1986. The 99 reading is also the highest temperature ever recorded in Borrego in February.
Escondido reached 95, tying a record set in 1901.
El Cajon reached 92, three degrees higher than the record set in 2009.
Ramona topped out at 88, five degrees higher than the record set in 2009.
Alpine hit 88, four degrees higher the record set in 1986.
Campo reached 87, four degrees higher than the record set in 1999.
Vista hit 86, four degrees higher than the record set in 2020.
Chula Vista reached 84, one degree higher than the record set in 2020.
Lake Cuyamaca rose to 76, four degrees higher than the record set in 1986.
Forecasters say the weather is not likely to broadly produce new highs on Sunday. Cooler air is moving to the coast, and on Monday, San Diego’s high will only reach 67, a degree above normal.
San Diego, CA
Francis Parker captures Open Division girls basketball title
OCEANSIDE — The Frontwave Arena scoreboard showed 23 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Up 16, Francis Parker’s win over Westview High School for the CIF San Diego Section Open Division girls basketball championship was secure.
“No, no, no!” Parker head coach Courtney Clements screamed to freshman guard Jordan Brown, telling her there was no need to score.
So Brown walked the ball up the floor, from the backcourt, across midcourt, a 1,000-watt smile etched across her face.
With no Wolverines defending her, Brown dribbled from side to side across the logo. Then, a fraction of a moment before the final buzzer sounded, Brown flung the basketball high toward the rafters, then was engulfed by teammates.
The job was complete. Parker’s first Open Division title in program history was secure, the final reading 66-50 on Saturday night.
Of those final seconds, said Brown, who scored 23 points. “It was a surreal moment, knowing we worked for this all year long. It’s amazing.”
One reason it was amazing was because the top-seeded Lancers (21-7) were a decided favorite, but were stressed by the sixth-seeded Wolverines (20-9). Led by UC Santa Barbara-bound senior guard Sarah Heyn (18 points in the first half), Westview led 35-28 early in the third quarter.
“I just knew I had to do whatever it took to win,” said Brown. “Whether that was defense or offense. I just wanted to win, period.”
Sparked by its defense, Parker closed the quarter on a 14-0 run. Westview’s final 11 possessions of the quarter ended with five missed shots and six turnovers.
Still, the game wasn’t over. Heyn cut the deficit to 48-44 with just over six minutes to play on a bucket. But with 5:47 to play, Heyn was whistled for her fifth foul on a reach-in.
“Knowing their best player fouled out, we sealed the win,” said Brown.
As for Heyn, who finished with 23 points, she sat on the bench and pulled her jersey over her eyes, hiding tears.
Clements’ thoughts when Heyn fouled out? “I hope we can put this game away now.”
That the Lancers did, outscoring Westview 18-6 down the stretch.
The Lancers’ players and coach were effusive in their praise for Heyn, a four-year starter.
“She’s a great player,” said Brown.
“She played phenomenally,” said Clements. “She played the way you would think a senior would play in a championship game. She played desperately. She played every possession like it was the last 20 seconds of the game. She was extremely impressive. (Heyn buried five 3s, missing only once from deep.) She should be proud of herself.”
Clements was proud of her team for another reason. After blowing out two-time reigning Open Division champion Mission Hills by 26 in the semis, some thought Parker might cruise in the title game.
“I figured it was going to be a fight, and it was,” said Clements. “It was good that our girls had to come together, had to stick together. That’s what this is all about, developing character via the sport of basketball. When the kids face adversity, they have to make a decision. Who do they want to be? They showed the best version of themselves. That’s what I want to remember from a game like this.”
Francis Parker’s primary color is brown, which is fitting for the girls basketball team. They are led not only by the freshman Jordan Brown, but also junior Brieana Brown, a strong, aggressive and athletic 5-foot-11 wing.
Brieana Brown scored 25 points and yanked down a team-best eight rebounds.
About the team in brown being led by the Browns (who are not related), Jordan Brown said: “It’s super cool. I love Bri and our story. So many people think we’re related, that we’re siblings. In reality, we’re not, but we play like it.”
Francis Parker and Westview both will advance to the Southern California Regionals.
Earlier in the season, Clements — who was dressed in all black for the championship game — confessed she wasn’t crazy about Parker’s primary color. Her mood shifted Saturday night.
“Brown’s doing well for me now,” she said.
Asked if Lancers’ Brown squared tandem represents the best one-two girls basketball punch in the San Diego Section, Clements gave the questioner a “What do you think?” smirk.
“That,” said the coach of the Open Division champions, “is a no-brainer.”
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