Mrazek faces statebreds in Graduation Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Mrazek appeared to be on his way to a stakes win in the Summer Juvenile Championship at Los Alamitos on July 12 until Swipe unleashed a rally that carried him to the front in the last stride.

Swipe is a candidate for Saturday’s $150,000 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar, a Grade 2 race at 6 1/2 furlongs. Mrazek is taking an easier path in the stakes division. He is part of a field of six in Wednesday’s $100,000 Graduation Stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds at 5 1/2 furlongs.

The statebred race is a better fit, trainer Doug O’Neill said. Even if Mrazek wins the Graduation, he is not certain to run in the meeting’s top race for 2-year-olds, the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs Sept. 7.

“We’d have to see a big effort,” said O’Neill, who also sends out Ralis in the Graduation.

A stakes win would be a boost and could lead to the $150,000 I’m Smokin Stakes at six furlongs for California-breds on Sept. 4. Mrazek is one of two stakes-placed runners in the Graduation field along with Xingontothebone, who was third in the Santa Anita Juvenile on June 21 and won a maiden race for California-breds at Los Alamitos on July 4.

Graduation, Race 6

KEY CONTENDERS

Mrazek (Last 3 Beyers: 80-70-61)

◗ Mrazek won his debut against California-breds by 5 1/4 lengths on May 31 and was second in his stakes debut, the Santa Anita Juvenile, against open company June 21.

◗ Owned by Paul and Zillah Reddam, Mrazek is likely to be a factor from the start of the Graduation. He drew the rail for the third consecutive race.

◗ Mrazek led by two lengths with a furlong to go in the Summer Juvenile Championship. O’Neill described Swipe’s performance as “a monstrous race.”

Ralis (Last 3 Beyers: 54-67-58)

◗ Ralis was fifth of six in the Summer Juvenile Championship, emerging from the race with an excuse, O’Neill said.

“We were disappointed in his last effort,” he said. “We scoped him, and he had a little mucus, so we put a line through that.”

◗ While Ralis won a maiden race at five furlongs by 4 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita on June 13, O’Neill said the Graduation’s distance might not be a fit for a colt, who is also owned by the Reddams.

“He might be more of a two-turn horse,” he said.

Viviendo El Sueno (Last Beyer: 55)

◗ Viviendo El Sueno, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, won a five-furlong maiden race at Santa Anita by a half-length, fighting for the lead throughout.

“He ran between horses the whole way, and he dug in,” said Dan Ward, Hollendorfer’s assistant.

◗ Drew post 5 in the Graduation and is likely to stalk runners such as Mrazek and Xingontothebone.

“I think we have a good post,” Ward said.