Pappacap joins small field for Del Mar Futurity

DEL MAR, Calif. - Pappacap, the winner of the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes on Aug. 7, will be part of a small field in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 6, closing day of the track’s summer meeting.

As of Sunday, a field of five was expected for the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs, including Best Pal runner-up Finneus and the recent maiden-race winners American Xperiment, Murray and Pinehurst.

Forbidden Kingdom, a maiden-race winner at 5 1/2 furlongs in his debut on Aug. 21, is not expected to race until the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Oct. 1.

“I’m tempted to run back in the futurity, but it’s not enough time,” trainer Richard Mandella said.

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Respect the Code, the easy winner of an $80,000 claiming race for maidens on Aug. 8, is passing the race, trainer Peter Miller said. He did not disclose a race goal for Respect the Code.

On Sunday, Pappacap was jockey Joe Bravo’s first appointment for the 9 a.m. training session. Bravo guided Pappacap through a half-mile workout in 49.20 seconds.

“I guess my job was to keep him as relaxed as possible,” Bravo said. “Our goal is next week.”

Pappacap is trained by Mark Casse for Rustlewood Farm.

There will be jockey changes on at least two contenders. Umberto Rispoli rode Finneus in the Best Pal, but will ride American Xperiment, a maiden-race winner in his debut at 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga on July 30 for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Finneus will be ridden by Tiago Pereira, according to trainer Walther Solis. On Sunday, Finneus worked five furlongs in 1:00.20.

Finneus closed from fifth in a field of six to finish 4 3/4 lengths behind Pappacap in the Best Pal.

“I think Tiago will fit him,” Solis said.

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The Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs on Sept. 5 has a field of nine probable runners: Elm Drive and Eda, the first two finishers of the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at six furlongs on Aug. 6, and the two-time stakes winner At the Spa, are the runners with stakes experience.

The maiden-race winners Ain’t Easy, Dance to the Music, Grace Adler, Myfavoritedaughter, and Rock the Belles and the maiden Very Scary add depth to the field.

Elm Drive worked five furlongs in a minute Sunday, while At the Spa went the same distance in 1:03.60.

At the Spa, trained by Jorge Periban, had a slow workout of five furlongs in 1:05 a week before her last start, a win the California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 5.