Daisycutter right in Desert Steel’s wheelhouse
By Jay Privman
DEL MAR, Calif. – Desert Steel is 3 for 6 in five-furlong turf sprints at Del Mar and 2 for 13 doing anything else. She returns to her favorite trip on Friday for the $75,000 Daisycutter Handicap, seeking a second consecutive victory after ending an eight-race losing streak last time out at Santa Anita.
“Last time was her first win down the hill at Santa Anita in quite a few tries,” said Simon Callaghan, who trains Desert Steel. “Five-eighths is the perfect distance, probably. I think this track definitely seems to be where she thrives. She’s doing as well as I’ve ever had her.”
Desert Steel, 5, was sixth in last year’s Daisycutter, but that was her first start in nearly eight months, and she had a dreadful trip from an inside post. For Friday, she landed the outside box in a field of six.
“I like the post,” Callaghan said. “It’s a good spot.”