DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) — Banned took the lead in the stretch, lost it briefly, then came on strong in the final strides to beat Midnight Interlude by a nose in the $250,000 Del Mary Derby on Sunday at Del Mar.
The race was marred by catastrophic injuries to Burns in the run to the clubhouse turn. The horse fractured sesamoid bones in his right foreleg and was euthanized. Jockey Patrick Valenzuela strained his right leg and was replaced aboard his remaining two mounts.
Ridden by Garrett Gomez, Banned ran 9 furlongs on the turf in 1:47.93 and paid $3.80, $2.80 and $2.60 as the 9-10 favorite in a field of nine 3-year-olds.
Midnight Interlude, the Santa Anita Derby winner trained by Bob Baffert, returned $3.60 and $3.60. Extensive was another half-length back in third and paid $6 to show.
The victory, worth $150,000, increased Banned’s career earnings to $599,476, with five wins in 10 starts.
