The Padre Runs Down Freedom’s Not Free to Win Del Mar Derby

[Wandering Eyes]

The Padre, who closed into a tepid pace to win the La Jolla Handicap last time out, repeated the dose Sunday, powering to the lead late to make it two in a row over the Del Mar lawn in the GII Del Mar Derby. The 3-5 favorite was well held while positioned off the pedestrian pace set by Freedom's Not Free. He rolled up three wide at the top of the lane and surged past the pacesetter to win with authority.

“He was up against it last time with no pace and it kind of looked like a more murky scenario this time,” winning trainer Phil D'Amato said of the slow pace the favorite has closed into in both of his recent victories. “I just think it shows what a tremendous turn of foot this horse has. To overcome fractions that slow two times in a row and outkick them like he does, that's a real racehorse.”

The Padre began his career in his native Ireland, where he won his 1 1/4-mile debut over the all-weather at Dundalk in January for trainer/breeder John Halley. Transferred to D'Amato's Southern California barn, he opened his stateside campaign with a late-closing runner-up effort in a one-mile optional claimer at Santa Anita June 13 and got on top late to take the 1 1/16-mile La Jolla Handicap last time out Aug. 3.

“I think the year-end goal for him would be something like the GI Hollywood Derby,” D'Amato said of next targets for the winner. “We will just work around that. If we can make him a Grade I winner–he's still in tact–and develop him for next year.”

Pedigree Notes:

The Padre became the third graded winner for his sire Ghaiyyath, who has also been represented by a pair of French group winning fillies in My Highness (Ire), who won last weekend's G2 Prix du Calvados, and Mandanaba (Fr). The Godolphin stallion won the 2020 G1 Juddmonte International, G1 Coral-Eclipse, and G1 Coronation Cup, as well as the 2019 G1 Grosser Preis von Baden.

Shalanaya, who won the 2009 G1 Prix de l'Opera in The Aga Khan's colors, was purchased by Halley for €55,000 at the 2019 Arqana December sale. The mare produced a full-brother to the winner last year.

Sunday, Del Mar
CAESARS SPORTSBOOK DEL MAR DERBY-GII, $300,000, Del Mar, 8-31, 3yo, 1 1/8mT, 1:49.23, fm.
1–THE PADRE (IRE), 122, c, 3, by Ghaiyyath (Ire)
                1st Dam: Shalanaya (Ire) (G1SW-Fr, GISP-Can,
                                $637,986), by Lomitas (GB)
                2nd Dam: Shalamantika (Ire), by Nashwan
                3rd Dam: Sharamana (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
   1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. (60,000gns RNA Ylg '23 TATOCT).
O-Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, LLC and Naify,
Marsha; B-J Halley (IRE); T-P D'Amato; J-U Rispoli. $180,000.
Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $259,585. *1/2 to Shalamba (Ire)
(Zoffany {Ire}), GSP-Ity, MSP-Fr, $103,110. Werk Nick Rating Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Freedom's Not Free, 122, c, 3, Omaha Beach–
Wonderfuladventure, by Tiz Wonderful. 1ST GRADED BLACK
   TYPE. ($75,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $300,000 2yo '24 EASMAY).
O-Blinkers On Racing Stable, Janlois Racing, LLC, Valinor Racing
Stable, LLC, Corbett, Tom, Kwan, Andy and Wagner, Jay Lester;
B-Cove Springs, LLC (KY); T-Mark Glatt. $60,000.
3–Game Warrior, 122, c, 3, Game Winner–Le Mi Geaux, by First
Samurai. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($52,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP;
$200,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). O-Jethorse LLC; B-George W.
Ruggiero (KY); T-Peter Miller. $36,000.
Margins: 1, NK, 3/4. Odds: 0.70, 2.20, 10.20.
Also Ran: Geometry, Mythical Reel (Ire). Scratched: Iron Man Cal. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

 

THE PADRE (Ire) ($3.40) hits the gas under @umbyrispoli for a birthday win in the $300,000 Del Mar Derby (G2). @PhilDamato11 trains for owners @lrfracing, @StablesSterling and @Marsha_Naify. pic.twitter.com/f2TAtbukeH

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 1, 2025

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