D'Amato pair could be vulnerable top choices in Kathryn Crosby

Class matters, particularly on turf and almost always in routes. But traditional handicapping gets disrupted in the fall at Del Mar.

Under normal circumstances, graded winners such as Dolce Zel and Turnerloose would be tough to beat in a restricted stakes such as the $75,000 Kathryn Crosby. But in the brief and curious history of the filly-mare turf mile, no favorite has been safe and no longshot can be tossed.

Favorites are 0 for 7 in the Kathryn Crosby, including four dropping from graded stakes. Only three favorites even hit the board, while longshots repeatedly light it up. Four winners were highest or second-highest odds in the field, their payoffs ranged from $28 to $67.80.

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Dolce Zel and Turnerloose could restore normalcy to the Kathryn Crosby on Saturday at Del Mar. Phil D’Amato trains the only graded winners in the nine-runner field. Based on recent chaos in the Kathryn Crosby, perhaps Dolce Zel and Turnerloose should be the first to toss.

Longshot bettors will be tempted by seven others in the stakes race, which is restricted to non-winners of $60,000 in a stakes at a mile or more since April 1. The field includes Linda’s Gift, runner-up in a fast allowance; Ganadora, a dirt stakes winner; stakes-placed Nadette, Very Scary, and Free and Humble; and Yerwanthere, an impressive allowance winner two weeks ago.

Dolce Zel is the one to beat in her first start for D’Amato and first since she finished sixth in the Grade 1 Matriarch last fall while trained by Chad Brown. A dual Grade 3 winner against 3-year-olds, Dolce Zel passed tougher graded races last week to target the Kathryn Crosby.

“I toyed with the idea of running her closing weekend at Santa Anita in either the Goldikova or Ken Maddy, but just thought this might be a better spot for her,” D’Amato said. “I think she’s pretty fit, she likes to train, she’s not lazy by any means.”

Dolce Zel also has a history of firing fresh, her Grade 3 wins in the Lake George at Saratoga and Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs were first start back from three-month layoffs. She returns Saturday from an 11-month layoff, with jockey Flavien Prat. Dolce Zel is 3 for 8.

Turnerloose has a current-condition advantage, having tried three recent Grade 2 races. Her runner-up finish two starts back makes her a contender on Saturday, though her last-place finish in her most recent start creates uncertainty.

“She kind of threw in a clunker,” D’Amato said. “We’re regrouping here. I gave her some extra time, and it is definitely class relief from her last couple.” Antonio Fresu rides Turnerloose, a 3-for-14 filly whose up-front style complements Dolce Zel’s closing rally.

While 4-year-old turf fillies Dolce Zel and Turnerloose seek late-season stakes wins on Saturday, D’Amato will consider the Grade 3 Bayakoa Stakes on Dec. 15 at Los Alamitos for 4-year-old dirt filly Desert Dawn. Fifth by 1 1/4 lengths in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, the graded stakes winner Desert Dawn will campaign next year as a 5-year-old.

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