Hard Aces to skip Pacific Classic, run in Del Mar Handicap

DEL MAR, Calif. - The days of Grade 1 dirt races are over for Hard Aces.

Next weekend, Hard Aces is expected to start in Saturday’s Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf - and not the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles on dirt the same day.

Hard Aces had his final major exercise Sunday, working five furlongs in 1:00.60.

“We’ll keep him away from the Grade 1 horses,” trainer John Sadler said Sunday. “It’s time to try something a little marathony.”

The $200,000 Del Mar Handicap is the longest turf stakes for males at the track’s summer meeting. On July 26, Hard Aces was second by a nose in the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap at 1 1/2 miles on dirt to Curlin Road, who is bound for the Pacific Classic.

“He ran so good,” Sadler said. “We were happy with him.”

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The Del Mar Handicap will be the first start on turf for Hard Aces since a sixth in the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Handicap in February 2014, when he was trained by Larry Jones. Hard Aces was acquired by Pete and Kosta Hronis and sent to Sadler in early 2015.

Since joining Sadler’s stable, Hard Aces has won 3 of 24 starts and earned $1,012,845. His most prestigious win was the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita in June 2015 as a 5-year-old.

The Del Mar Handicap will be an open race, with a large field. The candidates include 2016 winner Ashleyluvssugar as well as Big John B, Flamboyant, He Will, Hunt, Inordinate, Itsinthepost, Monster Bea, Prime Attraction, and Up With the Birds.

Hunt won the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf July 22. Itsinthepost won two Grade 2 turf races at 1 1/2 miles earlier this year: the San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita in March and the Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland in April.

The winner of the Del Mar Handicap receives a fees-paid berth for the Breeders’ Cup Turf here Nov. 4.

The Del Mar Handicap is one of three graded stakes on the Saturday program. Aside from the Pacific Classic, the day’s other Grade 1 race is the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3-year-old fillies.

Madam Dancealot, winner of the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap at a mile on turf July 23, is expected to be part of a large field that will include Beau Recall, Blame It On Alphie, Con Te Partiro, Dream Dancing, Kathy’s Song, Kenda, Meadowsweet, Pacific Wind, Tapped, and Vexatious.

La Sardane is one notable absentee. The winner of the Group 2 Prix de Sandringham at Chantilly, France in June, La Sardane was sent to California for the Del Mar meeting, but will not start because of a minor injury, according to Barry Irwin, the chief executive of the Team Valor syndicate that owns the filly.

Irwin said in an email Saturday that La Sardane will be pointed to a 2018 campaign.

Sunday’s main race is the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on turf led by 2016 race winner Midnight Storm. The $200,000 Del Mar Mile will not have a large field. Bal a Bali, the winner of the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile in March and Shoemaker Mile in June, is a probable starter along with Blackjackcat, Om, and Vyjack.

Barleysugar likely for Mabee Stakes

Barleysugar, the 4-year-old Irish-bred filly, is likely to run in the Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes for fillies and mares on turf Sept. 2 following her win in an optional claimer at Del Mar on Saturday.

In her first start since March, Barleysugar ($7.80) closed from last in a field of six under jockey Kent Desormeaux to win by 1 3/4 lengths over 8-5 favorite Nodiac. The layoff was caused by illness, trainer Ed Freeman said.

“She had bad stomach ulcers,” Freeman said. “Rather than give her a month off, we decided to give her all the time.”

Owned by Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal, Barleysugar has won 3 of 13 starts in her career, and 2 of 8 starts since joining Freeman’s stable last summer.

Barleysugar won the Sandy Blue Handicap at Del Mar on July 16, and was later third, beaten a half-length, in the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita last October.

“I thought she should have won the Autumn Miss,” Freeman said.

The $200,000 John Mabee Stakes is run at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Trainer Miller fined $1,000

Trainer Peter Miller has been fined $1,000 after one of his winners at Santa Anita in April tested in excess of the permitted level of the anti-inflammatory Isoflupredone.

The excessive level was found in a post-race test taken from Banze No Oeste, the winner of the first race April 22. Banze No Oeste won a $32,000 claimer on the hillside turf course as the 2-1 second choice.

Desormeaux appeals suspension

Jockey Kent Desormeaux is appealing a three-day suspension for causing interference in the Solana Beach Stakes on Friday, according to his agent, Mike Ciani.

Desormeaux rode Moonless Sky, who finished second in the turf stakes for California-bred fillies and mares. Desormeaux was ruled to have altered course without clearance. The stewards conducted an inquiry into the race, but did not change the order of finish.

The suspension was scheduled to start Friday, but Desormeaux is booked to ride in three of the eight races.