Miller may start four in Oceanside Stakes

Led by the unbeaten Arms Runner, trainer Peter Miller may have as many as four starters in Wednesday’s $100,000 Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-olds at Del Mar.

The Oceanside Stakes, at a mile on turf, is the featured race on opening day of the track’s summer meeting. Miller’s other hopefuls include Allaboutmike, Tell Me a Story, and Vending Machine.

Arms Runner has won twice, including the Desert Code Stakes for sprinters at Santa Anita in May. This will be the longest race of his career.

“It shouldn’t be a problem,” Miller said of the distance.

Vending Machine won the minor Eddie Logan Stakes on turf at Santa Anita last December and is winless in four starts this year. The Oceanside will be the stakes debut for Allaboutmike and Tell Me a Story.

Miller finished second in the trainers’ standings at the 2016 summer meeting with 21 wins, two fewer than leader Phil D’Amato. Miller is aiming for the title at this summer’s meeting, which runs through Sept. 4.

“It won’t be for a lack of trying,” he said.

There are six stakes ranging in value from $100,000 to potentially $300,000 in the first five days of the meeting through July 23. The Grade 2 San Diego Handicap has a purse of $200,000 that will be raised to $300,000 if Arrogate starts, as expected. Arrogate is the world’s top-rated horse with wins in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup and $10 million Dubai World Cup this year.

Miller may start El Huerfano in the San Diego “if it comes up short.”

Other candidates for the San Diego are Accelerate, Cat Burglar, Dalmore, Donworth, and Win the Space, according to Del Mar racing officials.