DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) - My Best Brother held off the late challenge of 5-2 favorite Howe Great to win the $300,000 Del Mar Derby by three-quarters of a length Sunday.
Ridden by Martin Garcia, My Best Brother ran nine furlongs on the Jimmy Durante turf course in 1:46.83 and paid $14, $6.40 and $4.20.
Howe Great, who shipped in from the East Coast, returned $4.20 and $3.40, while Brother Francis was another length back in third and paid $4.20 to show.
The victory, worth $180,000, increased My Best Brother's career earnings to $343,090, with four wins in eight starts for trainer Julio Canani.
Potesta led all the way and beat Viva Carina by 7 1/2 lengths in the $100,000 Torrey Pines Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
Ridden by Joe Talamo, Potesta ran a mile on the synthetic Polytrack in a track-record time of 1:34.86 and paid $2.80, $2.40 and $2.10 as the 2-5 favorite.
Viva Carina returned $10.80 and $5.20, while Starlight Magic was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third and paid $3 to show.
It was Talamo's ninth stakes victory of the meet and the second of the season for trainer Mike Mitchell, who had brain surgery June 29 and is undergoing chemotherapy treatments.
Mitchell said his ultimate goal for Potesta is the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.
Potesta earned $60,000 and increased her career winnings to $192,400, with three wins in four starts.
Talamo also won the $90,359 Adoration Stakes for older fillies and mares with a come-from-behind trip aboard Cathy's Crunches, co-owned and trained by Jerry Hollendorfer. She beat Graser by 1 1/4 lengths while covering a mile in 1:36.52. Cathy's Crunches paid $20.60 to win. Great Hot was third.
