Nominations released for five stakes

Who faces Flightline in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on Sept. 3 at Del Mar? The answer is whoever runs well July 30 in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap.

Grade 1/Group 1 winners Country Grammer (Dubai World Cup), Express Train (Santa Anita Handicap), and Tripoli (Pacific Classic) are among 14 older horses nominated to the mile and a sixteenth San Diego on a Saturday card that also includes the Grade 1 Bing Crosby.

A muddled West Coast sprint division seeks clarity in the six-furlong Bing Crosby, which will be run without California’s top sprinters. Dr. Schivel is out until fall, Brickyard Ride also will pass. Leading nominees to the Bing Crosby, a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race for the BC Sprint, include American Theorem, Drain the Clock, and Shaaz.

Nominations closed this week for five stakes July 28-31 at Del Mar, beginning with the $175,000 Fleet Treat Stakes for California-bred 3-year-old fillies. Nominees to the seven-furlong sprint include stakes winners Connie Swingle and Rose Dawson, along with impressive debut winner Fun to Dream.

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The $100,000 Daisycutter Handicap, a five-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares on July 29, is expected to attract 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Twilight Gleaming. Grade 2 winner Leggs Galore also is nominated.

San Diego nominees in addition to Country Grammer, Express Train, and Tripoli include the surprise nomination of Mandaloun. His status for the San Diego is uncertain. There Goes Harvard, winner of the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita, and Royal Ship are also nominated to the local prep for the Pacific Classic.

Trainer John Shirreffs confirmed the improving Parnelli for the San Diego. Shirreffs said 2021 San Diego winner Express Train could run depending on a workout this weekend.

Nominees to the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes, at a mile and one-eighth on turf July 31, include Grade 2 winner Beyond Brilliant, Grade 1-placed Cathkin Peak and Grade 3 winner Hong Kong Harry.