Mandaloun shipping in for Saturday's San Diego Handicap
DEL MAR, Calif. – Mandaloun, winner by disqualification of last year’s Kentucky Derby, was scheduled to arrive at Del Mar on Wednesday for the Grade 2, $300,000 San Diego Handicap on Saturday, for which a terrific field of older horses was entered Wednesday morning.
In addition to Mandaloun, to be ridden by Florent Geroux, the San Diego field was expected to include Country Grammer, Defunded, Express Train, Parnelli, Royal Ship, Senor Buscador, Stilleto Boy, and Tripoli.
The San Diego, at 1 1/16 miles, is Del Mar’s major prep for the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic on Sept. 3. Tripoli, trained by John Sadler, won last year’s Pacific Classic.
Express Train is the defending San Diego winner. He is one of two entrants for trainer John Shirreffs, who also sends out Parnelli. Bob Baffert, trainer of Dubai World Cup winner Country Grammer, doubles up with Defunded.
The San Diego shares the card with the Grade 1, $400,000 Bing Crosby, a six-furlong dirt sprint that is a Win and You’re In toward the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 5 at Keeneland. Among those expected for the Bing Crosby were American Theorem, Bagboss, Desmond Doss, Get Her Number, Howbeit, Letsgetlucky, Principe Carlo, and Shaaz.
Sunday’s feature, the Grade 2, $250,000 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-old and up turf runners, is expected to have a quartet for trainer Phil D’Amato – Cash Equity, Cathkin Peak, Hong Kong Harry, and Masteroffoxhounds. D’Amato has won the Eddie Read three of the last six years, with Midnight Storm (2016), Hunt (2017), and Bowies Hero (2019).
Beyond Brilliant, who won the Hollywood Derby over this course and at this distance last fall, is the main threat to stopping the D’Amato juggernaut. Beyond Brilliant won the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham at Santa Anita in his last start April 30.
Others expected for the Eddie Read, for which entries were to be taken Thursday, are Ecrivain, King Cause, Master Piece, and Tango Tango Tango.