Next-race plans for Mrazek uncertain

DEL MAR, Calif. – Mrazek won his first stakes in Wednesday’s $100,000 Graduation Stakes for California-breds at Del Mar, and his late-summer plans will not be finalized until this weekend at the earliest.

Owners Paul and Zillah Reddam and trainer Doug O’Neill are running Nyquist in Saturday’s $200,000 Best Pal Stakes for 2-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs. If Nyquist runs well, he will be pointed to the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 7. If he runs poorly, Mrazek could be a candidate for the Del Mar Futurity.

Another option for Mrazek is the $150,000 I’m Smokin Stakes for California-breds at six furlongs on Sept. 4.

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“We’re thinking Nyquist is our best horse,” Paul Reddam said on Wednesday. “If he faltered, I could see [Mrazek] in the Futurity.”

On Wednesday, Mrazek led throughout the Graduation at 5 1/2 furlongs and won by 3 1/4 lengths over Ralis, also owned by the Reddams and trained by O’Neill. Mario Gutierrez rode Mrazek.

Mrazek has won 2 of 4 starts and earned $135,810. He beat maidens in his debut at Santa Anita in May and was second to stablemate Found Money in the Santa Anita Juvenile on June 21 and second to Swipe in the Summer Juvenile Championship at Los Alamitos on July 12. Swipe is a contender in the Best Pal Stakes.