Excessive forecasted rain forces Saturday cancellation at Del Mar

Due to a pending rainstorm, Del Mar has canceled racing Saturday and postponed the scheduled $100,000 Desi Arnaz Stakes. The seven-furlong stakes for 2-year-old fillies is moved to Sunday. It would be run as a co-feature with the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes open to 2-year-old males.

As of Thursday morning, Del Mar still planned to race Friday. Post time Friday was moved up a half-hour to noon. The storm, expected to arrive late Thursday or early Friday, is forecast to dump as much as six inches of rain on Southern California.

Del Mar races that were drawn for Saturday will be written back as “extras” for Sunday and redrawn. That is significant for the Desi Arnaz, in which multiple stakes winner Himika was the pegged as the 3-5 favorite by track linemaker John Lies. Her main rival, Revera, got stuck on the rail for the second straight race. A re-draw of the Desi Arnaz can only benefit Revera.

The re-draw of the Desi Arnaz, and the draw for the Bob Hope, were to take place Thursday. Nominees to the Bob Hope include flashy debut winner Boyd.

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