Mandella looks to add another Del Mar stakes in Seabiscuit

DEL MAR, Calif. – The runaway win by Big City Lights in the $98,000 Cary Grant Stakes on Saturday at Del Mar was the 77th Del Mar stakes win for trainer Richard Mandella, tying him for third with Ron McAnally. Bob Baffert has the most Del Mar stakes wins with 178, with John Sadler trailing him in second with 86.

Mandella could add to his total in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Stakes on Nov. 30. Sumter and Seal Team, first and fifth last out in the Lure Stakes, a restricted turf mile at Santa Anita, are targeting the 1 1/16-mile Seabiscuit.

Seal Team’s fifth-place finish as the Lure favorite was his first start in nearly a year. “He ran well, he closed nice,” Mandella said. “He probably wants a little farther, and he wants a good, fast pace. With this race under him, he’ll be tough, I think.”

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Sumter’s victory in the Lure was his first win in more than two years.

Grade 3 winner Goliad will get a break after finishing ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. “He came out great, we’ll give him a little rest,” Mandella said. “For what he’s done, I’m going to pay him back.”

Goliad won twice in six days in September at Kentucky Downs. He earned $300,000 winning a handicap Sept. 1, and $1,182,800 winning the Grade 3 Mint Million on Sept. 7.

Forbidden Kingdom, a three-time Grade 2 winner for Mandella, has been retired to stud after finishing last in an allowance Oct. 27 at Santa Anita. Forbidden Kingdom won three graded stakes at Santa Anita – the 2023 Joe Hernandez on turf, and 2022 San Vicente and San Felipe on dirt. A four-time winner of $683,660 from 14 starts, Forbidden Kingdom, by American Pharoah, will stand at Legacy Ranch in central California.

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