California's summer by the sea begins with revamped Oceanside Handicap

Beyond the breezy, seaside atmosphere of Del Mar, subtle changes are in store Friday when the track opens for an eight-week summer season that is the most highly anticipated race meet of the year in California.

Del Mar offers an escape from the heat and monotony of the Los Angeles-area tracks. For horses, horsemen, and horseplayers, it is a welcome respite. Del Mar temperatures typically hover in the mid-70s, accompanied by a soothing ocean breeze.

“I look forward to the change,” trainer John Sadler said, describing the annual summer relocation from Santa Anita to Del Mar.

The downside? “The [cost] kind of kills the joy a little bit.”

Notwithstanding pricey summer accommodations and $73 general admission opening day, Del Mar racing is as good as it gets in California. Future stars emerge in 2-year-old maiden races, current stars such as Journalism solidify reputations, and competitive turf races comprise nearly half the program. The past two summers, 47 percent of the races have been on turf, 53 percent on dirt.

Minor changes this summer include a tweak to the stakes schedule, and a new daily wager. Both are in play Friday in the feature race for 3-year-olds.

The restricted Oceanside Stakes was rebranded as the $150,000 Oceanside Handicap and opened up to all comers. The turf mile is the first leg of the 3-year-old turf series, which has been trimmed from three races to two. The midseason La Jolla Handicap has been scrapped and the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby moved to earlier in the meet, Aug. 23.

“We had to be realistic for an eight-week period, we were really struggling with the La Jolla,” racing secretary David Jerkens said.

The La Jolla has averaged 6.2 starters the past five years. “Essentially, the [opening day] Oceanside is the La Jolla,” said Jerkens.

At a mile on turf, the Oceanside attracted a deep field that includes stakes winners Bust Out, Secured Freedom, Unrivaled Time, One More Freud, Later Than Planned, and Grade 1-placed comebacker Mr. A. P.

The Oceanside also is the middle leg of Del Mar’s new 15 percent takeout $3 all-turf pick three that mirrors the bet Santa Anita has offered since fall 2023. Other low-takeout wagers at Del Mar include the 14 percent takeout, 50-cent mimimum early pick five and two additional 15 percent takeout wagers – the $3 late pick three and $5 late double.

Del Mar employs a two-minute cutoff in the win pool for computer-assisted wagering, which reduces late-odds volatility. Del Mar did not stipulate a CAW cutoff for exotic wagers.

The all-turf pick three covers the final three turf races and begins Friday in race 6, a second-level allowance led by Group 1-placed European import Detain. Race 8 is the Oceanside. Race 10 is a filly-mare maiden turf mile in which trainer Phil D’Amato, the early favorite to lead the standings, entered stretch-out Goodies against graded-placed Pentle Bay.

Entries were strong for the first two days of the meet. Ten races are scheduled Friday with an average field size of 9.4, plus also-eligible runners. Eleven races are scheduled Saturday. Average field size is 9.8, plus also-eligibles.

The Saturday card includes the California return of three-time Grade 1 winner Journalism and 2024 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Full Serrano. They meet in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap, the local prep for the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on Aug. 22.

In the Grade 2 San Clemente on Saturday, Kentucky shippers Raiding Party and Ground Support race a mile on turf in the local prep for the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 22.

The opening-day Oceanside attracted a deep field of 12. The 122-pound topweight is stakes winner Bust Out. Mr. A. P. makes his first start since finishing second last fall in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Mr. A. P. was knocked off the Derby trail in December with a knee chip. He resumed workouts in May. Both trainer Vladimir Cerin and jockey Joel Rosario believe he is ready to fire in his first start back. Rosario worked Mr. A. P. in late June, after which he told an associate, “I will ride him anywhere [Cerin] puts him.”

Turf is a new surface for Mr. A. P., but his pedigree supports the move. Sired by American Pharoah, he was produced by a mare who won two of four on turf, including a stakes. In early July, Cerin said Mr. A. P. “has been ready to run for two weeks.”

The knocks on Mr. A. P. are that he routinely washes out in the morning, and the BC Juvenile has turned out to be non-productive. Neither winner Ted Noffey nor runner-up Mr. A. P. has started since. Third-place Brant has been dusted in both of his starts as a 3-year-old and fourth-place Litmus Test won a soft Grade 2, then lost his next four. BC Juvenile runners are a combined 1 for 13 since the race.

Bust Out won the Cinema Stakes in June at Santa Anita, then finished a flat fourth in the $265,000 American Derby at Churchill Downs. Trainer Michael McCarthy will give him a pass.

“Kind of a funny race, kind of got in behind horses and sort of switched off, and never switched back on again,” McCarthy said. “Ran through the lane a little bit, and then galloped out well.”

Emisael Jaramillo rides Bust Out, who McCarthy believes prefers to be more forwardly placed.

D’Amato-trained Iriseach, runner-up to Bust Out in the Cinema two months ago, is ready to fire in his return to a course he loves.

“He broke his maiden at Del Mar. I think he likes Del Mar a little bit more,” D’Amato said. “This whole year, he’d get sick here and there. Nothing ever lined up. But now he’s doing very well.”

Umberto Rispoli rides Iriseach.

Later Than Planned gives D’Amato a one-two punch. He will be dropping in class after facing older and finishing sixth in a Grade 3 sprint.

“I didn’t have the right race for him. I had to run him against older, he was too rank,” D’Amato said. “I’m training him a bit differently going into this race. I have him much more relaxed and switched off for his late run.”

Hector Berrios rides.