Mandaloun needs to find best form in deep San Diego Handicap
DEL MAR, Calif. – Right around 8:15 on Thursday morning here at Del Mar, Mandaloun made his way to the track for the first of two days of training he’ll get in prior to the Grade 2, $300,000 San Diego Handicap on Saturday. Standing placidly near the gap by the six-furlong pole, he took everything in as though he’d been here for years, ears forward, alert, but relaxed.
He went on about his business, a routine gallop under jockey Florent Geroux, with similar style. He’s obviously settled right in. Good thing, because Mandaloun, winner by disqualification of both the Kentucky Derby and Haskell last year, will have quite a test Saturday.
The San Diego, this track’s prep for its signature race, the $1 million Pacific Classic on Sept. 3, came up well above average. It includes Country Grammer, making his first start since his victory in the Dubai World Cup in March, and Tripoli, last year’s winner of the Pacific Classic. Nine older horses were entered in the 1 1/16-mile race, but fewer could start, as There Goes Harvard, the Hollywood Gold Cup winner, is not certain to run.
The race did have one glaring omission at entry time – Express Train, who won the San Diego last year.
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“He’s been working well, but not that well,” John Shirreffs, who trains Express Train, said Thursday morning. Shirreffs said Express Train would await the Pacific Classic, which is the next scheduled start for Met Mile winner Flightline.
The San Diego is race 10 on an 11-race card that begins at 2 p.m. Pacific. Race 8 is the Grade 1 Bing Crosby, a Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
Mandaloun started the year off right for trainer Brad Cox, with a victory over Midnight Bourbon in the Grade 3 Louisiana at Fair Grounds, but he’s been off form since. He was ninth of 14 in the Saudi Cup – Country Grammer was second – then most recently fourth of seven in the Grade 2 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs following a four-month layoff.
“I think he needed his last race,” said Geroux, who has ridden Mandaloun in all 11 of his starts. “He chased a fast pace. That wasn’t ideal off a layoff.”
By drawing post 3, Mandaloun should get a good pocket trip. But he will have to bring his best form to be effective against this group.
Country Grammer has run four excellent races for Bob Baffert, but this will be his first start in four months and, more significantly, at the shortest distance he’s run in two years. He’s 0 for 3 at 1 1/16 miles or less.
“I think it might be a little short for him,” said Baffert, who is bringing in John Velazquez for the mount. “It’s a good spot to give him an out and set him up for the Pacific Classic.”
Baffert has a dangerous second entrant in Defunded, who was second in the Hollywood Gold Cup after setting a sharp pace. Drawn inside and back at a distance more to his liking, he could be the one to catch.
“He worked well here,” Baffert said.
Tripoli returns to the scene of his greatest victory. This will be his second start following a seven-month layoff. He was second in this race last year.
Royal Ship, third in this race last year, was third most recently in the Hollywood Gold Cup after winning the John Shear Mile, both at Santa Anita.
“He came out of his last race a little stiff and sore,” said his trainer, Richard Mandella. “This track is fast. I think he likes it that way. I think he’ll like it better.”
Parnelli, now the lone Shirreffs representative, won allowance races in his last two starts, the first of which was a dead heat with There Goes Harvard.
“And then There Goes Harvard won the Gold Cup,” Shirreffs said. “Parnelli started off good, flattened out, and now he’s rounding back to form.”
Stilleto Boy was a disappointing fourth in the Gold Cup, but prior to that ran the best race of his career, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 108 in the Grade 2 Californian. Did he bounce? He’s best when put into the race early, and with two months since his last outing has a right to bounce back.
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The lightly raced Senor Buscador, winner of the 2020 Springboard Mile at Remington, came off a 16-month layoff to win a money allowance at Lone Star. He’ll need to step up his game, but there’s no reason to believe he won’t improve off his comeback race, adding depth to an intriguing, fascinating race.