Price Tag likely to go in Palomar

DEL MAR, Calif. - One thing is certain about Saturday's $250,000 Palomar Handicap at Del Mar. Trainer Bobby Frankel will start the favorite.

Frankel has entered Precious Kitten, the winner of the Grade 1 John Mabee Handicap here on Aug. 4, and Price Tag, the winner of the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at Hollywood Park last November. Frankel said earlier this week that only one will start.

As of Thursday, Frankel was more likely to start Price Tag, according to assistant trainer Humberto Ascanio. Price Tag has not started since finishing third in the Grade 2 CashCall Mile at Hollywood Park on July 6.

"I hope he runs Price Tag because she needs the race," Ascanio said.

The Grade 2 Palomar is run over 1 1/16 miles on turf and has drawn 10 fillies and mares.

Price Tag was entered in the Mabee but withdrawn because of colic, Ascanio said. She has had four workouts since that race. "She didn't miss training but for a couple of days," Ascanio said.

A winner of 4 of 13 starts and $689,737 for Juddmonte Farms, Price Tag is likely to stalk the pace. She was closer to the front than usual in the CashCall Mile and finished 1 1/4 lengths behind race winner Lady of Venice. Edgar Prado rode Price Tag in that race, but Julien Leparoux has the mount in the Palomar.

"She was too aggressive" in the CashCall Mile, Ascanio said. "When [Prado] wanted to take her back, it was too late. I don't think she needs to be close. When she won the Matriarch, she was next to last turning for home."

Kris' Sis is the only filly in the field other than Precious Kitten to have won a stakes at this meeting. Trained by Julio Canani, Kris' Sis won the restricted Osunitas Handicap here on July 21, her second win in three starts.

"I know this is not an easy race, but she's really training well," Canani said.

Canani said that Kris' Sis could be on a three-race winning streak - that she should have won when she ran a troubled third in an allowance race at Hollywood Park July 1.

The Palomar may lose an entrant in Dream's, who has not started since January. Trainer Ron McAnally said he would like to find an easier spot for the 6-year-old mare.