Planetario to Del Mar Handicap, possible for Breeders' Cup nomination

The 5-year-old Planetario is likely to start in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap on turf on Sept. 2 after winning his first stakes in the United States in Sunday’s $100,500 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at Santa Anita.

In between, owners Red Rafa Stable and trainer Richard Mandella face an expensive decision.

Planetario, a two-time Grade 1 winner in Brazil in 2021, is not nominated to the Breeders’ Cup. A supplemental entry payment of $50,000 is due on July 15 that will make the horse eligible to Breeders’ Cup races for the rest of his career. The fee rises to $100,000 after July 15.

Planetario earned $60,000 for the win in the San Juan Capistrano at about 1 3/4 miles on turf, closing from fifth into a slow pace of 1:40.71 for a mile to win by 4 1/2 lengths over Offlee Naughty, a two-time graded stakes winner earlier this year at Santa Anita.

“I’m not sure what we’ve beat,” Mandella said earlier this week. “I’m not sure how good they were compared to the rest of the world, but he beat them pretty good.

“To run like that after such a slow pace, I thought it was pretty impressive.”

The $250,000 Del Mar Handicap is run at 1 3/8 miles. The winner receives a fees-paid berth to the BC Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 4, provided the horse is eligible for the Breeders’ Cup program.

Planetario has won 6 of 11 starts and $110,548, a reflection of low prize money in Brazil. Planetario was second to Offlee Naughty in the Grade 3 Charles Whittingham Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Santa Anita on May 13 in his 2023 debut and second start in the United States.

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