Big Wam has big figure edge in Graduation Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – In many places kids are going back to school, but at Del Mar on Friday it’s Graduation day.

The $125,000 Graduation Stakes for 2-year-old California-breds highlights an eight-race program that gets under way at 4 p.m. Pacific, and many bettors likely will be banking on The Big Wam to wear the cap and gown.

The Big Wam, trained by Luis Mendez, comes off a maiden victory here July 23 in which he recorded a Beyer Speed Figure of 74, vastly superior to anything his eight rivals have achieved to date. He is battle-tested, having raced three times already, including a second-place finish against open company in the Kentucky Juvenile on May 5 at Churchill Downs.

Juan Hernandez, the meet’s leading rider, is back aboard after guiding The Big Wam to his maiden victory.

That win was earned going five furlongs. The Big Wam stretches out to 5 1/2 furlongs for the Graduation – race 6 on the card – but his stalk-and-pounce style seems ideal to lengthier sprints.

Trainer Jonathan Wong has entered two Tommy Town Thoroughbred homebreds against The Big Wam, but he was debating whether both would run.

Man Oh Man is certain. He won first time out on all-weather at Golden Gate before fading to third after setting the pace in the Everett Nevin at Pleasanton last time out. He was stuck in post 2 in the Nevin and benefits from a better draw – post 5 – on Friday.

“They dueled us into the ground,” Wong said of the Nevin. “Our hand was forced from the inside.”

Underscoring how well Man Oh Man performed is that Graduation entrant Good N Thirsty faded to seventh after battling early with Man Oh Man.

Wong said he worked Man Oh Man with his other entrant, Early Release, on Aug. 5 and had Man Oh Man sit behind his stablemate before rallying.

“He sat off him and galloped out well,” Wong said. “Ideally, we’ll let the speed go this time.”

Early Release was a front-running winner against maiden-claimers on July 10 at Los Alamitos and would be facing significantly stronger company in the Graduation if he goes.

Straighten Up should be a major player right from the start. He won on debut for Jerry Hollendorfer on July 1 at Los Alamitos, where Mike Smith made a rare appearance to pilot the 4-5 shot to a front-running victory in which he earned a Beyer Figure of 61. He landed the outside post.

Hacking It Up won second time out against maidens July 24 at Del Mar after losing his debut at Santa Anita to Graduation entrant Whobeterthantiger, who prevailed after a poor start in what has been his lone start to date.

Strength of Autism set a moderate pace winning second time out at Sacramento and figures to at least press the early pace.

Smokem for You, a maiden filly, completes the field.