Del Mar: Three-year-olds hold court

DEL MAR, Calif. – The El Cajon Stakes on Saturday and Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes on Sunday, both at one mile and worth $100,000, are the features on a fairly light weekend of racing at Del Mar which bridges the big Pacific Classic weekend last week and the stakes-filled closing weekend next week.

Iron Fist, fourth most recently in the West Virginia Derby for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, heads the field for the El Cajon. His rivals are expected to include Desert Dynamo, Fame and Power, Rocko’s Wheel, and Thanksgiving Day. Gimme Da Lute, who was nominated to the race, will bypass the El Cajon and point to the Pennsylvania Derby at Parx on Sept. 19, trainer Bob Baffert said.

Stellar Wind, winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks, heads the small field of fillies expected for the Torrey Pines. Stellar Wind most recently won the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita in June. Had she worked well on turf earlier this meet she would have run in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks earlier this month, but trainer John Sadler was not satisfied with how she went on grass and opted instead to wait for the Torrey Pines.

Tara’s Tango, who most likely would have been the main challenger for Stellar Wind, will await the Cotillion at Parx on Sept. 19, Hollendorfer said Tuesday. Among those who could jump in to the Torrey Pines field are Big Book, Miss Double d’Oro, Popover, Rattataptap, and Ultimate Holiday.