Special Ring Wins Wickerr, Sets Track Mark

Special Ring changed tactics and broke a Del Mar track record in winning the $75,000 Wickerr Handicap at one mile on the turf Friday evening.

The 5-year-old son of Distant View, known for his front-running style, made a big move from the outside on the final turn to run down the leaders, Shibboleth and Stratton and draw away to a two-length victory. Touch Of The Blues encountered traffic problems in the stretch before coming on for jockey Corey Nakatani to nip Fateful Dream for the place. Shibboleth held on for fourth.

Ridden by David Flores and trained by Julio Canani, Special Ring finished in 1:32 3/5 (1:32.72), shaving two-fifths of a second off the old mark set by Crystal Hearted in 1999. William J. Preston owns Special Ring, who won his first stakes race in two years.

The 2-1 favorite in the 10-horse field, Special Ring paid $6.40, $4, $3.40. Touch Of The Blues returned $5.20 and $3.60. Fateful Dream paid $3.80 to show. The $2 exacta was $48.40.

(Chart, Equibase)