Old pros try to get back in the win column in California Dreamin'

DEL MAR, Calif – Veteran geldings, both 6, will try to turn back time on Saturday in the $150,000 California Dreamin’ Stakes at Del Mar.

On the Whim, who won the California Dreamin’ two years ago but has not won since fall 2024, meets comebacker Old Pal, a California-bred stakes winner making his first start since November.

Seven are entered in the California Dreamin’, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for Cal-breds. On the Whim and Old Pal will take support, though none are sharper than Mr. Disrespectful, who crushed two recent sprints at Los Alamitos and can carry his speed two turns on turf.

The field also includes multiple stakes winner None Above the Law, stakes winner Santa Barbarian, sharp allowance winner Prince Dolce, and New York-based maiden Bull Shoals.

On the Whim finished second last out in the Crystal Water Stakes at Santa Anita, and trainer Dean Pederson’s post-race assessment is accurate.

“I thought he ran his [expletive] eyeballs out,” Pederson said. “It was kind of like the dog chasing the rabbit, no excuses, that’s what you call second best.”

Flyover set the pace in the Crystal Water and kept running, On the Whim held second. That was May 23, after which Pederson targeted the California Dreamin’. He envisions a good trip under jockey Tiago Pereira.

“The good thing about [On the Whim] is he puts himself usually in a good spot, whatever the pace is,” Pederson said.

On the Whim, 4 for 16, could be positioned second behind the speed.

Old Pal is ready to fire in his first start since November, according to trainer Mark Glatt, even if it was a squeeze timing-wise.

“He’s coming into it really good. We’ve kind of been up against the clock a little bit to have him dead ready for this,” Glatt said. “He’s just a cool horse, he’s all class. He’s had multiple [setbacks] pop up on him, obviously, with the amount of starts he’s had.”

Old Pal has raced only 13 times, winning four. Juan Hernandez is riding Old Pal for the first time since he won the Snow Chief Stakes at Santa Anita in 2023. Old Pal is a late-runner.

The pace is likely to be set by Mr. Disrespectful, a decisive sprint winner twice at the recent Los Alamitos meet. Craig Dollase trains Mr. Disrespectful, who looked happy and comfortable working an easy half-mile last weekend on turf at Del Mar. Armando Ayuso rides.

Prince Dolce is sharp, up in class from a dominating Cal-bred allowance win at a mile on turf. None Above the Law is the veteran in the field. The 8-year-old has won five stakes, including the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby with jockey Joe Bravo in 2021. None Above the Law and Bravo are reunited Saturday.

The California Dreamin’ has been won by the favorite 10 times in its 20-year history. On the Whim would be the fourth two-time winner of the stakes, and the first to do it in non-consecutive years. The California Dreamin’ is race 5.