Over two years and eight defeats since last tasting victory, Rail Trip sat the perfect stalking strip under Jose Valdivia Jr. through tepid fractions and held on late to capture the $200,000 San Diego Handicap (Grade II) by 1 1/2-lengths as the 9-to-2 fifth choice in the field of seven.
"I couldn't have mapped it out on paper any better. Our plan was to get good position and he broke really sharp. It was awesome. He really needed to win," said trainer Ron Ellis. "That's the only thing I've ever noticed about him since he's been back that he doesn't seem to have that swagger of winning."
After winning multiple graded stakes for Eillis in 2009 and 2010, Rail Trip was unexpectedly shipped east to the barn of Rick Dutrow where he failed to cross the wire first in five races.
"That was a funny circumstance and a couple years in the past," Ellis said regarding Rail Trip being taken away from him. "We've gotten over it, but it's certainly nice to have him back."
In his only previous start at Del Mar, Rail Trip finished third in the 2009 Pacific Classic (Grade I) beaten just a length behind Richard's Kid.
"I said if he won this race we would certainly give it (the Pacific Classic) some thought. We'll see how he trains and definitely give it some consideration," Ellis said regarding plans for Rail Trip's next race.
Owned by Jay Em Ess Stable, the win moved the career earnings for the 7-year-old son of Jump Start to over $1.25 million and earned him an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (Grade I) in November at Santa Anita.
"I've always thought he'd be an excellent miler. We worked really hard stretching him out to a mile and a quarter," said Ellis. "Anything's an option now, but I like our chances of heading in the right direction."
John Scott was sent off as the 3-to-1 favorite and held on for second after setting the slow pace and Kettle Corn closed late after having issues in the gate before the start to run third.
