Few for Sorrento, many for La Jolla

DEL MAR, Calif. – The graded stakes races on Saturday will be a contrast in field size, as only a handful of 2-year-old fillies are set for the Grade 2, $200,000 Sorrento Stakes, while at least 11 are expected for the Grade 3, $150,000 La Jolla Handicap for 3-year-olds on turf.

Morganite, who would have been a heavy favorite in the Sorrento, will stick with the original plan and await the Del Mar Debutante. Auntjenn, Back Off, Miss Southern Miss, Silvertoni, and Unforgivable U are likely to run.

Monster Bea, the winner of the opening-day Oceanside Stakes, tops the prospective La Jolla field, which is likely to include All the Marbles, Arcature, Burger and Fries, Dressed in Hermes, Free Rose, Imperious One, Liam the Charmer, Lucky Bryan, Moonlight Drive, and Mr. Roary.

◗ Cupid, the winner of the Grade 2 Indiana Derby last time out, worked a half-mile in 47 seconds at Del Mar on Monday and got the green light to go to Mountaineer for the Grade 2, $750,000 West Virginia Derby on Saturday. His time equaled the fastest of 51 half-mile works Monday.

◗ Also working a half-mile here was Dortmund, the runner-up in the San Diego Handicap to California Chrome nine days earlier in his first start of the year. He was timed in 48 seconds. He could race next in the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 20.