Rain likely to impact this week's races
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DEL MAR, Calif. – Del Mar will be wet this week, and the severity of the rainstorm that was forecast to arrive Thursday will determine the complexion of the eight races scheduled for Friday.
Six inches of rain is forecast to fall in Southern California, which forced the cancellation of the Saturday card and the postponing of the Desi Arnaz Stakes to the Sunday program. The $100,000 Desi Arnaz for 2-year-old fillies features stakes winner Himika, who will be odds-on. The Grade 3 Bob Hope for open 2-year-olds was also scheduled for Sunday but did not fill.
The rain at Del Mar will influence the number of turf races that can be run on a wet course over the next few cards. This is problematic because Del Mar relies heavily on turf racing. Each fall meet since 2021, the track has run more turf races than dirt races. During that time, 296 races were on turf and 276 on dirt.
When races for Friday were drawn, rain already was in the forecast. Only three turf races are scheduled Friday. Jerkens said if rain forces the turf races to dirt, “we felt like we had decent protection in those three races.”
In other words, enough horses would stay in and not scratch to have an actual race.
While rain could jeopardize the Friday card, Del Mar officials released a statement Wednesday morning that said “the current weather forecast should allow us to race on Friday.” Meanwhile, the forecast has become increasingly ominous. Rain was forecast to begin late Thursday and continue through the weekend.
If the Friday card is run, history will be made in the first race. Del Mar has lowered the bottom class level to $5,000 claiming. Race 1 is the first race at the new bottom, and Halo Uncle is the likely favorite based on his runner-up finish last out at the same claiming level at Santa Anita.
Halo Uncle will try to extend the streak of winning chalk on dirt. Favorites dominated Del Mar dirt races the first two weeks of the meet, winning 55 percent (17 for 31) compared to 34 percent on turf (12 for 35).
Race 4, a maiden special weight sprint for older runners, includes the most probable winner on the card. Latitude makes his second start after a runner-up debut in which he earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure. The number was validated when winner Modus Bestia won an allowance next out.
Latitude is trained by John Sadler, whose 5-for-14 record ties him for the fall-meet lead with 5-for-14 George Papaprodromou. Latitude’s main rival is fast-pace debut runner-up Simple Song.
Race 6 is a dirt mile for maiden 2-year-old fillies, including debut third-place finisher Conquistadora and first-time starter Consequent. Conquistadora is trained by Michael McCarthy and will be switching surfaces after a solid debut on turf. Consequent, trained by Bob Baffert, is a full sibling to stakes winner Show Card.
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