Del Mar considering scheduling Kentucky Derby prep

Del Mar officials held discussions on Tuesday about including a stakes race at its summer meet designed as a prep for the rescheduled Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Sept. 5.

Churchill Downs announced on Tuesday that Kentucky Derby will be postponed from May 2 to September because of the coronavirus outbreak.

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Del Mar’s summer stakes schedule for 3-year-olds emphasizes turf races, with the restricted Oceanside Stakes run on opening day followed by the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap in early August and the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Labor Day weekend. The track has one open dirt stakes for 3-year-olds – the $100,000 Shared Belief Stakes at a mile, which was run last year on the final Sunday of August.

To provide a Kentucky Derby prep, Del Mar could move the Shared Belief and perhaps alter its distance, or create a new race.

“We had discussions, very preliminary, given the news that broke yesterday, that we would consider providing an opportunity,” director of racing Tom Robbins said on Wednesday. “It’s like everybody else. We’re willing to make adjustments to make things more sensible and better for horsemen.”

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Robbins said the track would discuss options with the Thoroughbred Owners of California, which must agree to terms of a stakes schedule. The track typically announces its stakes schedule in early spring.

Del Mar is tentatively scheduled to apply for a license for the summer meeting at the May California Horse Racing Board meeting. The stakes schedule is part of the license application. The Del Mar meeting is scheduled from July 18 to Sept. 7.

“We still have to think we’re running business as usual given it’s four months to opening day,” said racing secretary David Jerkens. “It’s a fluid situation that seems to have change by the hour.