In only the fourth win dead heat in Del Mar stakes history, Go Forth North
and Warren's Jitterburg reached the finish exactly together in Friday's featured
$87,675 Sandy Blue Handicap for three-year-old fillies.
At the end of a thrilling renewal of the one-mile race over
the infield grass course, the photo finish camera was unable to separate Go
Forth North, a 13-1 longshot piloted by Omar Berrio, and Warren's Jitterburg,
sent postward at 9-2 under Patrick Valenzuela.
A head behind the embattled deadheaters was third-place
Fortunia, the 2-1 favorite in a field of eight fillies. La Nez and Sandy Cheeks
were withdrawn from the original field.
Time for the distance was 1:34.27.
Go Forth North, owned by L-Bo Racing, Pyle and Summer of Fun
Stables and trained by A.C. Avila, paid $13, $10 and $5.60. Warren's Jitterbug,
representing owner Benjamin C. Warren and trainer Jorge Gutierrez, returned
$6.20, $5 and $3.20. Futunia paid $3.60 to show.
Go Forth North is a daughter of North Light who was scoring
her second win in eight starts, while Warren's Jitterburg, by Affirmative, was
recording her third victory in 13 efforts. Go Forth North won $32,370, while Warren's
Jitterbug picked up a check for $39,120.
Previous stakes deadheats for win at Del Mar were the 1946
Bing Crosby Handicap, War Allies and Indian Watch; the 1968 Del Mar Derby,
Prince Hemp and Glory Hallelujah, and the second division of the 1973 Rancho
Bernardo Handicap, Dollar Discount and D.B. Carm.