Del Mar: Creative Cause on target for Best Pal

The hotshot 2-year-old Creative Cause will be among the favorites when he makes his second start in the Best Pal. Trainer Mike Harrington said Creative Cause is on target for the 6 1/2-furlong Best Pal, pending a second Del Mar workout this weekend.

Creative Cause won his July 16 debut by 4 3/4 lengths, earning a 98 Beyer that was the highest by a 2-year-old at the Hollywood meet.
“I knew he could run, but he’s bred to be a two-turn horse,” Harrington said. “I didn’t expect that going five-eighths.”

A son of Giant’s Causeway out of Grade 1 winner Dream of Summer, Creative Cause worked five furlongs July 24 at Del Mar in 1:00.80.
“He worked okay, it wasn’t spectacular,” Harrington said. “I think horses need works over this track. If all goes well, I’m headed to the Best Pal.”

Kevlar Kid hopes speed is carrying in San Diego

The Grade 2 San Diego Handicap on Saturday marks the graded stakes debut for front-runner Kevlar Kid, who scored two dominating allowance wins recently at Hollywood Park. The question is, will his rock-and-roll running style be as effective at 1 1/16 miles on the Del Mar main track?

“Sure, I am always concerned about that,” trainer Carla Gaines said.

The slow six-furlong workout of 1:14.40 by Kevlar Kid on July 24 was by design.

“It wasn’t a super-fast time, but he worked by himself and he’s a pretty kind horse on his own,” Gaines said. “I didn’t want him doing a whole lot.”

Eight older horses were entered in the San Diego, including Don Tito, Oilisblackgold, Spurrier, Tres Borrachos, Golden Itiz, Aggie Engineer, and Uh Oh Bango.

Kevlar Kid is matched against Golden Itiz in the head-to-head wager which is offered on race 8 each Saturday.

Dynamo still targeting Oaks

Despite a fourth-place finish as the odds-on favorite in a July 24 allowance race, the promising 3-year-old filly Dynamo will remain a candidate for the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 20.

“I still think she’s very good,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “Maybe I put her to sleep. I was worried about having her too nervous down here. I don’t know what made her dizzy the other day, but she wasn’t herself.”

Mandella said Dynamo, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Champ Pegasus, will continue to train as if the Del Mar Oaks is a viable alternative. Meanwhile, her sibling Champ Pegasus could return in the 1 3/8-mile Del Mar Handicap on Aug. 28 or the Del Mar Mile on Aug. 27.

“He might not be ready for the [marathon], I might start him out in the mile,” Mandella said.

The Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap could attract division leader Acclamation. The Grade 2 Del Mar Mile is a possible start for Twirling Candy, who also is under consideration for the Pacific Classic.