Trainer Jonathan Thomas has had good luck shipping to Del Mar, picking up five graded wins with Truly Quality (Quality Road), Mrs. Astor (Lookin At Lucky), and Will Then (War of Will) just in the last two years. He added another score to the mix Saturday with Observed (c, 2, Mandaloun–Overseen, by First Defence, a first graded winner for freshman sire Mandaloun (by Into Mischief). who debuted Aug. 4 at Horseshoe Indianapolis going 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf. After a handy win there, Observed shipped to Del Mar, registering a bullet :47 4/5 (1/5) four-furlong work over the lawn Aug. 30 in preparation for Saturday's victory in the GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes.A $240,000 Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, and Robert LaPenta buy at the 2025 Keeneland September sale, Observed broke smoothly as Golden Sentry (Halladay) in the next stall hopped awkwardly out of the gate, then got crowded a bit as the field sorted out, causing Juan Hernandez in the irons to take up slightly and steady. Unfazed, Observed settled along the rail three from the rear as Itinerary (Quality Road) showed the way up front through a :22.48 first quarter. Shuffled to a joint last, Observed bided his time before splitting horses entering the turn as Itinerary got tackled up front by Off in the Corner (Karakontie {Jpn}). 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Shadow Nation (Ire) (Sioux Nation) loomed menacingly at the top of the lane–in his first start since late May at Santa Anita following a minor stall incident–to unleash a powerful stretch run while shadowed to his outside by Observed as Off in the Corner held a four-length advantage. Observed and Shadow Nation hooked up, making it a two-horse race down the lane, leaving Off in the Corner in their wake as Observed outfooted Shadow Nation to the wire by three-quarters of a length.“We're really pleased with the result,” said Thomas.” As we thought there was going to be a lot of pace, we found ourselves a little farther back than ideal but I thought Juan [Hernandez] did a great job of sitting chilly and cool and waiting for a good seam. The horse had a lot of momentum and got the job done. He really polished the race off nicely. I'm really proud of him.”Pedigree Notes: It wasn't a bad day at the office Saturday for Juddmonte's Mandaloun, who got his eighth 2-year-old winner in his first crop with Rum Twist at Saratoga, then added his first graded winner with Observed. The Classic-winning son of Into Mischief also has a Thistledown black-type winner in unbeaten three-for-three Book Value.Observed's dam Overseen is a granddaughter of Juddmonte's tremendous broodmare Slightly Dangerous (Roberto), who produced six Grade/Group I performers. Already the dam of GIII Lecomte Stakes winner Call Me Midnight (Midnight Lute), Overseen was covered by Goal Oriented for next term. From Juddmonte families on top and bottom, Observed was bred by Hartwell Farm, who purchased Overseen as an unraced 2-year-old at the 2013 Keeneland November sale for $16,000. Observed and Juan Hernandez find another gear and dig in to win the Del Mar Juvenile Turf GIII. pic.twitter.com/DfquAt81C7— Del Mar Racetrack (@DelMarRacing) September 5, 2026Saturday, Del MarDEL MAR JUVENILE TURF S.-GIII, $101,500, Del Mar, 9-5, 2yo, 1mT, 1:36.40, fm.1–OBSERVED, 120, c, 2, by Mandaloun 1st Dam: Overseen, by First Defence 2nd Dam: Jibe, by Danzig 3rd Dam: Slightly Dangerous, by Roberto1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($240,000Ylg '25 KEESEP). O-Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse ThoroughbredPartners and Robert V. LaPenta; B-Hartwell Farm Inc. (KY);T-Jonathan Thomas; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $60,000. 'TDNRising Star, presented by Hagyard' Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0,$79,200. 1st graded winner for freshman sire (by IntoMischief). *1/2 to Call Me Midnight (Midnight Lute), GSW,$286,188. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the freeEquineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Shadow Nation (Ire), 122, c, 2, Sioux Nation–Tooralooraloo (Ire), by Dylan Thomas (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE,1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. (€42,000 Ylg '25 TATIRY).O-Slugo Racing, Tiger Racing, Inc. and Craig Warren;B-Cottage Bloodstock (IRE); T-Mike Puype. $20,000.3–Off in the Corner, 122, c, 2, Karakontie (Jpn)–Sally Dangles,by More Than Ready. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACKTYPE. ($30,000 Ylg '25 KEESEP; $110,000 2yo '26 OBSAPR).O-Altamira Racing Stable, Gary Barber, and Tom Kagele;B-Newstead Stables LLC (KY); T-Peter Miller. $12,000.Margins: 3/4, 1, 3/4. Odds: 6.70, 1.40, 5.60.Also Ran: Hoaxer, Golden Sentry, Itinerary, Missed Fortune, Cosmic Charlie. Scratched: Automatic Press, Dang Son.Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel Racing. The post Del Mar Juvenile Turf Victor Observed is First Graded Winner for Juddmonte’s Mandaloun appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.