Navarone Remains a Top Gun on Turf

DEL MAR — After winning only one of five starts last year while trained by Wayne Lukas, Navarone has found a home in Rodney Rash’s barn and on the turf.

The 4-year-old son of Irish River made it three consecutive victories and is unbeaten in two starts on grass after winning the $81,075 Escondido Handicap by 3 1/2 lengths Friday.

In four starts for Rash, the former longtime assistant to Charlie Whittingham, Navarone has won three races with one second.

Trying turf for the first time here on July 29, owner Robert Hibbert’s homebred trailed early, then charged in front to beat an allowance field by 1 1/4 lengths.

Facing tougher competition Friday, the 7-1 shot moved into the lead inside the early pacesetter and 11-10 favorite, Never Black, down the backside, then kept improving under Pat Valenzuela. He ran the 1 3/8 miles in a course-record 2:12 2/5, including the final eighth in 12 seconds.

Seven Rivers, the 7-2 second choice, was second, five lengths ahead of Polaris Star. Never Black, in his first start with Lasix, faded to fourth, ahead of Single Dawn and River Rhythm.

“He’s improving with every start, just getting better and better,” Rash said of Navarone. “Pat rode a brilliant race. (Navarone) came to me in May. He had been injured in 1991 and was off for a year. Jane Dunn at Delta Farms did a great job with him, and then Mr. Hibbert sent him to me.”