McCarthy's stakes winners gearing up for Del Mar

The stakes winners Ohio and Paved and the stakes-placed Vibrance will be among trainer Michael McCarthy’s scheduled runners at Del Mar this summer, while the stakes winner Liam the Charmer is being given a rest.

Liam the Charmer “is getting a little break,” McCarthy said.

Liam the Charmer, who won the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship last September and was later 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs, was sixth in an allowance race with an $80,000 claiming option June 14 at Santa Anita.

Liam the Charmer is winless in three starts this year, including a third in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita in January.

“He’ll get the majority of the summer off,” McCarthy said.

Ohio won the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on March 30 at Santa Anita and was sixth in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on May 27. An 8-year-old gelding, Ohio may start in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf July 21.

Vibrance, third in the BC Juvenile Fillies last November, is a candidate for an allowance race. She has not raced since finishing last of six in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Starlet Stakes last December.

Paved, winner of the Grade 2 Honeymoon Stakes for 3-year-old fillies in June 2018 and later second in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes against older fillies and mares, may start in the $85,000 Osunitas Stakes on July 19. Paved was fifth in the Grade 1 American Oaks on Dec. 29 at Santa Anita in her last start.