Extra Hope heads probables list for Native Diver

DEL MAR, Calif. – Extra Hope, third in the Damascus at Santa Anita on Nov. 2, tops the likely starters in the Grade 3, $100,000 Native Diver Stakes on Saturday at Del Mar.

The Native Diver, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up, had eight nominations, including Santa Anita Derby winner Roadster, who was second in the Damascus. But trainer Bob Baffert said Roadster might instead head to Churchill Downs for the Grade 1 Clark later this month.

Extra Hope, trained by Richard Mandella, is seeking his first stakes win. Flavien Prat has the mount. Prat worked him five furlongs on Saturday at Del Mar in 1:02.80.

Midcourt, Two Thirty Five, and Leading Score – the first three finishers in the Comma to the Top at Santa Anita on Oct. 27 – also are likely for the Native Diver. Leading Score, like Roadster, is trained by Baffert.

Sunday’s feature, the $100,000 Cary Grant at seven furlongs for 3-year-old and up California-breds, also should have a small field from its nine nominees. Among those likely for the race are Fashionably Fast, Grinning Tiger, Touching Rainbows, and Ultimate Bango.

McKinzie in light training, Game Winner resting

Baffert on Saturday offered an update on two of his top older stars. McKinzie, second last time out in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, is in light training at Santa Anita, Baffert said. Game Winner, the champion 2-year-old male of 2018, is resting on a farm and will stay in training next year at age 4. Game Winner was second in this year’s Santa Anita Derby but has not raced since winning the Los Alamitos Derby in July.

“He’ll come back to me in January,” Baffert said. “He’ll have a summer and fall campaign.”