Joel Rosario, shooting for his second consecutive Del Mar riding title, took a one-win lead over Rafael Bejarano with eight races to go by sweeping the early daily double.
Rosario guided 6-5 favorite Quoted ($4.60) to victory in the first race, a $25,000 claiming event for 3-year-olds and older. He came back in the second leg of the double to score aboard Fund Raiser, a 3-1 shot who returned $8.80 in the $75,000-added overnight stakes for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.
The winning daily double paid $19.80.
Bejarano went into the meet’s final day with a 54-53 lead, but Rosario now is on top 55-54. Both jockeys are scheduled to ride in the final eight races.
What a matchup! Like two heavyweights going at it until the bell. Go Rosario!