Passing Game gets no respect

DEL MAR, Calif. - Even though he has won five times in 20 starts, a respectable record, Passing Game seems to always get passed over by bettors. That’s just fine with his trainer, Gary Sherlock, who isn’t shy about backing Passing Game at the windows and has cashed all five times he has won – at odds of 20-1, 39-1, 10-1, 36-1, and, here last time out July 17, at 30-1.

“I find it laughable, but I love it,” Sherlock said after Passing Game, a 5-year-old gelding, won his last start. “He’s made 200 grand, he’s a stakes winner, and he pays off like a slot machine. He got hurt last fall, pulled a suspensory, but we got him ready for this meet, and he delivered once again.”

Passing Game, who has won twice in three starts at Del Mar, is entered in Thursday’s first race, an optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs. He is eligible to be taken for $20,000, the same price at which he was entered last time. Though he’s been eligible to be claimed in his 13 previous races, Passing Game never has been taken and still races for his breeders.

◗ Story to Tell, prepping for the Grade 2, $200,000 Best Pal Stakes for 2-year-olds on Sunday, worked a half-mile in 48.80 seconds Tuesday for trainer Dan Hendricks.