The Argentinian filly Netherland scored her first U.S. victory at Del Mar Friday with a gate-to-wire tally in the $75,625 Piedra Foundation Handicap. The 4-year-old daughter of Roy, a Group 1 winner in her native land, proved best by three-quarters of a length under Mike Smith, covering the mile on the main track in 1:36.78. She is owned by the partnership of Alan Gilbert and Mike Pegram and is trained by Del Mar's leading conditioner, Bob Baffert. Finishing second in the filly-mare test for 3-year-olds and up was Amerman Racing's Printemps, the even money favorite who was three lengths ahead of Marcel Zarour's Se Me Acabo. Netherland, who won her fifth race in her 17 starts, picked up a check for $45,375 to push her career earnings to $189,039. This was her sixth outing in this country, her first having come at Churchill Downs on May 2. In the race prior to the feature, the 3-year-old gelding Seeingisbelieving fractured his right front cannon bone and fell heavily just past the half-mile pole in a 1 1/16 mile claiming event on the turf. Rider Eddie Delahoussaye was thrown and later taken to Scripps Hospital, La Jolla for X-rays. He suffered a contusion to his temple and possible injuries to his neck and hip. The horse was humanely euthanized. A crowd of 12,232 took in the day's activities. There is a pick six carryover of $137,728.29 going into Saturday's program.
(Chart, Equibase)