Rain impacts turf, dirt racing at Del Mar

DEL MAR, Calif. – The San Clemente remained on the turf at Del Mar, but two other grass races on Sunday came off the turf, the second straight day that some grass races were taken off the turf owing to heavy rain that resulted in off tracks both Saturday and Sunday. Del Mar officials said more than an inch of rain fell here, which is unusual for the summer.

In fact, the off tracks were the first at Del Mar since Sept. 6, 1991. There might have been the chance for an off track during a rainstorm last summer, but Del Mar had the all-weather surface Polytrack then. After using Polytrack from 2007-14, Del Mar switched back to dirt prior to this summer’s season.

Turf works on Sunday were canceled, and several top horses scheduled for turf or dirt works Sunday and Monday – like Beholder, Dortmund, and Prospect Park – had those drills postponed.

The rain has also caused inconveniences in the stable area, where standing water forced the relocation of some horses housed in outdoor pens.

American Pharoah walks

The track was still sloppy for training on Monday morning, and there was little activity, with just two horses recording workouts.

American Pharoah, the Triple Crown winner, was scheduled to have a one-mile jog on Monday, but because of the track condition trainer Bob Baffert chose to walk him around the shed row for the second straight day following his workout on Saturday.