Del Mar's juveniles could offer a sneak peek of what's to come

DEL MAR, Calif. – Bing Crosby was a co-founder of Del Mar. Joe Harper, grandson of Cecil B. DeMille, runs the place now. A track with long-standing ties to the movie business, Del Mar has served as a preview of coming attractions in recent years, never more so than last year, when American Pharoah won the Del Mar Futurity, giving a hint of what was to come.

To expect another Triple Crown winner to come out of this year’s crop of 2-year-olds is obviously a reach, but considering that the winners of five of the last six Triple Crown races – American Pharoah and California Chrome – ran at Del Mar during the summer as juveniles, there is a compelling reason to pay close attention to what transpires here with 2-year-olds over the next seven-plus weeks, beginning Thursday.

The depth of this year’s crop appears to be strong. The nominations to the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on closing day, Sept. 7, and Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 5 include the usual suspects with numerous nominees, like Bob Baffert, Jerry Hollendorfer, Doug O’Neill, and John Sadler. But several other trainers – like Simon Callaghan, Phil D’Amato, Keith Desormeaux, Peter Miller, and Mike Stidham – have far more 2-year-olds this year than last, which should ensure fuller fields.

“I think we’ll be dividing some maiden races early on,” said Tom Robbins, Del Mar’s executive vice president of racing and industry relations.

Baffert said his colts are farther behind this year than his fillies. Pretty N Cool, a daughter of Scat Daddy, has trained sharply in recent weeks and should debut early in the meet. Among his colts, Mt Veeder (by Ghostzapper) could be among his early-season starters.

Hollendorfer should come out firing early with the likes of the fillies C. C. Zipp (by City Zip) and Songbird (Medaglia d’Oro), and he’s already tipped his hand with Surfside Tiara (Scat Daddy), who was second to Callaghan’s promising filly Undisputed (Street Boss) in their debuts July 4 at Los Alamitos.

O’Neill has the best colt to have raced so far on this circuit, Nyquist (Uncle Mo), who got a Beyer Speed Figure of 84 in his Santa Anita debut June 5. He should run next in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes on Aug. 8. Nyquist is owned by Paul Reddam, who has struck early and often this year with O’Neill with offspring of his sire Square Eddie, including the colt Found Money, the unbeaten winner of the Santa Anita Juvenile who is slated for the Graduation Stakes Aug. 5. Newcomers to watch from this barn include the filly Albeit (Mineshaft) and the colt Kelly With a Twist (High Cotton).

Sadler has one of the best fillies seen so far on this circuit, Uptown Twirl (Twirling Candy), a $630,000 auction buy in March who won her debut June 18 at Santa Anita. She is pointing to the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes Aug. 12. Sadler said two early-season runners to watch include the colt Blameitonthelaw (Blame) and the filly Scary Smart (Smart Strike).

Callaghan has Undisputed set to go in the Sorrento. The colt On Fire (Friesan Fire) should be among his early-season runners. Later on, look for the filly Mirage (Oasis Dream), a recent purchase in England who is being aimed to the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf on Sept. 7.

D’Amato is definitely one to watch. He had 10 2-year-olds last year, and is up to 35 this year, including four for a new client, Siena Farm. He said his top prospects include the colt Young Brian (Hard Spun), and the fillies Devoted One (Broken Vow) and Street Fancy (Street Sense). “We should be stronger in the second and third condition books, the last weeks of the meet,” he said.

Desormeaux is off to a strong start, having won the Landaluce Stakes at Santa Anita with the filly Right There (Eskendereya) and the Summer Juvenile Championship Stakes last Sunday at Los Alamitos with the colt Swipe (Birdstone). Because both have pedigrees that suggest they will do better with more distance, “this early success is a nice surprise,” Desormeaux said. Right There is headed to the Sorrento, Swipe the Best Pal, and Desormeaux said he’s got more newcomers to unveil later this meet as the distances of the maiden races increase.

Miller, who always points for Del Mar, said his current crop of 2-year-olds is “my biggest and best group ever.” The colts Marty Montana (Awesome Again), Oatfield (Candy Ride), and Tristan’s Trilogy (Scat Daddy) – a $530,000 auction buy at Ocala in March – and the fillies Mining Diamonds (Mineshaft) and Shakti (Run Away and Hide) are among Miller’s deep contingent who have yet to start.

“It’s a promising group. I’m excited,” said Miller, who sent out the colt Annie’s Candy (Twirling Candy) to a maiden win last weekend at Los Alamitos.

Stidham is sending his eye-catching Arlington maiden winners Amira J and The Zip Zip Man to stakes at Woodbine – keeping them on Polytrack – but he has brought 10 2-year-olds here, including the filly Annie’s Curls (Curlin), who should debut early in the meet.