Del Mar Derby draws unaccomplished but competitive field

There are eight colts, three fillies, and one gelding among the 12 runners in Sunday’s Grade 2 Del Mar Derby. One of them will be a graded stakes winner for the first time by Sunday evening.

There are four stakes winners in the field – American Farmer, Kanderel, Pixelate, and Warren’s Showtime – but stakes-placed runners such as Kiss Today Goodbye and K P All Systems Go are as intriguing as their more accomplished rivals.

The $200,000 Del Mar Derby is run at 1 1/8 miles on turf and is the 10th race on an 11-race program that begins at 1 p.m. Pacific.

The Del Mar Derby will be the turf stakes debut for Kiss Today Goodbye and the first start in California for Pixelate, who has been second or third in five turf stakes this year at Churchill Downs, Delaware Park, Fair Grounds, and Sam Houston Race Park.

The absence of a standout in the Del Mar Derby field played a leading role in the decision to send Pixelate from Maryland to Del Mar, trainer Mike Stidham said Friday. Stakes at Churchill Downs and Saratoga also were considered.

“It looks like it might have come up a little lighter,” Stidham said.

Pixelate won the Central Park Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Aqueduct last December. Though Pixelate is winless this year, Stidham said he was encouraged by a second-place finish to Smooth Like Strait in the War Chant Stakes at Churchill Downs in May. Smooth Like Strait is based in California and was entered in the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

“I think he’s run against some good horses,” Stidham said of Pixelate. “He ran second to Smooth Like Strait, who is probably the best of the 3-year-old turf horses on the West Coast.”

Pixelate was second in the Grade 3 Kent Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on July 4 at Delaware Park, finishing a half-length behind Gufo, who was later second in the Saratoga Derby on Aug. 15.

“He gets the mile and an eighth, for sure,” Stidham said. “Depending on the pace, he can sit back or lay closer if they’re slowing it down.”

There should be a solid pace in the Del Mar Derby from runners such as Dominant Soul and Margot’s Boy, which also helps Kiss Today Goodbye and K P All Systems Go.

Kiss Today Goodbye was third in his stakes debut in the Shared Belief Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on dirt on Aug. 1 at 34-1. The first two finishers – Thousand Words and Honor A. P. – were entered in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.

Kiss Today Goodbye has worked on turf three times in recent weeks in preparation for the Del Mar Derby.

“Hopefully, Kiss Today Goodbye will take right to the grass now that he’s an accomplished, experienced horse,” trainer Eric Kruljac said. “He improved with each of his three turf works.

“He may never run on turf again, or he might be a turf horse. Who knows?”

K P All Systems Go was third behind Smooth Like Strait in the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf on Aug. 9, closing from last in a field of eight. In June at Santa Anita, K P All Systems Go was second by a neck in the Cinema Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf in his stakes debut.

“I think he wants to go a mile and an eighth or farther,” trainer Jeff Mullins said. “He hasn’t had the opportunity to do it much.”

K P All Systems Go drew the outside post. Because the Del Mar Derby starts on the infield chute before joining the main turf course, K P All Systems Go may race wide unless jockey Abel Cedillo can craftily save ground early.

“He needs a good trip,” Mullins said. “It’s not ideal.”

In terms of success in graded stakes, the fillies California Kook and Warren’s Showtime are the most accomplished runners in the Del Mar Derby, having finished second and third in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Aug. 22. Guitty, also entered in the Del Mar Derby, was seventh in the Del Mar Oaks.

California Kook closed from last of 10 to finish a length behind winner Red Lark.

“She only runs the last part,” trainer Peter Miller said. “I think she’s capable of winning. It’s a watered-down derby this year. It’s not nearly as tough as year’s past.”