Del Mar: Cassidy ready for opening week stakes

Dr. Green may be a little more focused on racing when he starts in Wednesday’s $100,000 Oceanside Stakes on opening day at Del Mar.

“I castrated him since his last race and he’s trained well,” trainer Jim Cassidy said on Saturday.

It was a drastic move, but one that Cassidy hopes will give his stable a boost on the opening week of the Del Mar meeting. He also plans to start Oceanside nominee Robbie’s War in an allowance race on turf and Kid Edward in Saturday’s $300,000 Eddie Read Stakes, a Grade 1 over 1 1/8 miles on turf.

The Cassidy team for Del Mar will not feature the multiple Grade 1 winner The Usual Q.T., who is currently turned out, the trainer said. The Usual Q.T. has not started since finishing third in the Grade 2 American Handicap on May 20. “He’s getting 90 days and he’s already gotten 30 days,” Cassidy said.

Dr. Green could not have been more of a disappointment during the Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting. After finishing a closing fifth in his American debut at Santa Anita in March, Dr. Green was fifth and seventh in two optional claimers on turf in June.

In his last start on June 25, Dr. Green was at the back of the field throughout and finished last under jockey Martin Garcia.

“The last time, I don’t know what Martin was doing,” Cassidy said. “He got him so far out of the race that he was not in the race.”

Victor Espinoza is booked to ride Dr. Green in the Oceanside. Dr. Green has one win in eight starts, an eight-length victory in a maiden race at Windsor, England, last June.

“He’s a lot more aggressive since I cut him, which is good,” Cassidy said. “He’s 50 pounds lighter.”

Dr. Green will be a longshot in the Oceanside. A leading contender is Mr. Commons, who was third in the Santa Anita Derby in April and eighth in the Preakness Stakes in May, his most recent start.

Kid Edward will be tested in the Eddie Read, which is expected to draw Aggie Engineer, Buenos Dias, Caracortado, Celtic Princess, Jeranimo, Smart Bid, and Victor’s Cry.

Second in the Grade 2 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar, Kid Edward was second in an optional claimer at Hollywood Park on July 2, his first start since a third in the Grade 2 Oak Tree Derby last October.

Jeranimo has not started since a fourth as the 7-5 favorite in the Grade 2 American Handicap at Hollywood Park in April. Owner B.J. Wright and trainer Mike Pender considered the Hollywood Gold Cup on the synthetic main track on July 9, but opted to wait for the Eddie Read.

“There was no reason to take his favorite surface away from him,” Pender said. “All systems are go.”

Jeranimo won the Grade 2 San Gabriel Handicap over 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita last December, but is winless in three starts this year. He was third in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita in March.