Possible fields taking shape for return of turf racing
DEL MAR, Calif. – For the last two months, trainer Ron McAnally has targeted the $250,000 John Mabee Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 10 for Miss Serendipity, the winner of the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita in May.
McAnally thinks so highly of Miss Serendipity that she is looked upon as a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita this fall. How Miss Serendipity preps for that race this month is a concern for McAnally.
The Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes is run over 1 1/8 miles on turf, but the Del Mar turf course has been plagued by incidents of injuries since the meeting began July 17. Four horses were euthanized as a result of injuries sustained July 17, 25, and 26. After a former claimer was seriously injured in a turf sprint last Thursday, turf racing was abandoned from Friday through Sunday and will not resume until next Saturday, a day before the Mabee.
This is the second such cancellation of the meeting. Turf racing was abandoned July 27 after the injuries that occurred the previous days. The turf course was extensively watered and aerated July 27 and 28. The same procedures will be done this week, track officials said. The course is new, having been installed over the winter.
The surface may have been helped by an eighth of an inch of rain that fell through Saturday afternoon.
For now, McAnally considers Miss Serendipity a candidate for the Mabee but said he has nominated the 6-year-old Argentine-bred mare to the $750,000 Beverly D Stakes at Arlington Park on Aug. 16 as a back-up plan.
“More than likely, we’ll stay here,” he said. “Every rider I’ve talked to said the turf course is good. We nominated for the Beverly D. It’s a situation when you don’t know what the weather will be back there. There are several things to consider.”
The uncertainty surrounding the turf course will lead to a small field in the Mabee. As of Sunday, the race candidates also included C ozzeUp Lady, Moulin de Mougin, Stormy Lucy, and Wishing Gate. Other fillies and mares such as Every Way, Miss Ellany, and Pearlside could join the race from a list of 20 nominations.
Richard Mandella trains the 4-year-old Moulin de Mougin and is planning a start.
“If I thought it was just the turf, I wouldn’t run myself,” Mandella said. “I’ll enter thinking I’ll run. It won’t hurt the rain got into it. I think aerating will help.”
Saturday’s $150,000 La Jolla Handicap for 3-year-olds over 1 1/16 miles is likely to have a small field. Enterprising, Sammy Mandeville, and Tonito M. were expected runners from a list of 18 nominees. Other possible starters are Argyle Cut, Sawyer’s Hill, and Schoolofhardrocks.
Del Mar announced last week that it will restrict turf racing in the final four weeks of the meeting to stakes, allowance races, and maiden special-weight races, and that no further turf sprints over five furlongs will be run. Claiming races and starter allowance races will not be offered through the end of the summer meeting Sept. 3.
Track officials planned to meet Monday to discuss options for turf course racing over the next month. Racing Secretary David Jerkens said an average of two turf races per day will be conducted when turf racing resumes. He said one exception could be the 11-race program on Pacific Classic Day, Aug. 24, which could have three races.
Jerkens said track officials would discuss whether to include optional claimers on turf later in August or whether to restrict those races to allowance-eligible horses.
Turf racing is a vital part of the track’s stakes schedule, with 20 of the 43 stakes run on the course. Aside from the Mabee, several important turf races have yet to be run, including the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 16, the $250,000 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 24, and the $300,000 Del Mar Derby on Aug. 31.
Two $90,000 stakes scheduled for five furlongs on turf – Friday’s Daisycutter Stakes for fillies and mares and the Green Flash Handicap on Aug. 13 – will be run on Polytrack synthetic surface.