Scratches of key players open up Del Mar Handicap

DEL MAR, Calif. - Quick Casablanca, a stakes winner at Santa Anita in April, was withdrawn from Saturday’s $200,000 Del Mar Handicap after a bout with colic on Friday that required minor surgery, trainer Ron McAnally said.

The absence of Quick Casablanca and the scratch of Irish Surf, who will run in Sunday’s $1 million Pacific Classic, leaves the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap with a field of 11 led by Fire With Fire, Big John B and Bright Thought.

McAnally said that Quick Casablanca was in distress after returning to the stable following a paddock schooling session on Friday. He was treated by McAnally’s veterinarian at the stable before the decision was made to take the 6-year-old horse to a local clinic for further treatment.

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At the clinic, veterinarians conducted surgery to check Quick Casablanca’s intestines for a cause of the colic.

“There were intestines out of place,” McAnally said.

McAnally said he expects Quick Casablanca to recover, but that it will be months before the horse can return to racing.

“You wait all this time and look at this,” McAnally said. “It’s part of the game. You have to take it.”

Quick Casablanca was a multiple Group 1 winner in South America in 2012, but has yet to race at that level in the United States.

For the remaining runners, there is more at stake than a first-place prize of $120,000. The Del Mar Handicap is part of the Breeders’ Cup’s Win and You’re In program, offering a fees-paid berth for the winner to the Grade 1 BC Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 1.

The scheduled runners for the Del Mar Handicap include five stakes winners – Bright Thought, Cogito, Fire with Fire, Topic, and Unbridled Command.

Topic, a 4-year-old filly, was withdrawn from Friday’s CTT and TOC Handicap against females. Trainer Neil Drysdale said the Grade 2 status of the Del Mar Handicap made the race attractive should Topic finish in the first three.

KEY CONTENDERS

Fire With Fire (Last 3 Beyers: 96-94-95)

* A 6-year-old gelding, Fire With Fire has won three of his last four starts, all in stakes, including the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes over 1 1/2 miles on turf at Santa Anita in March and the Whittingham Stakes over 1 1/4 miles on turf.

* Drysdale said the Del Mar Handicap will be the launch to an autumn campaign for Fire With Fire.

“He needed a rest,” he said. “He might get a little tired first time out.”

Big John B (Last 3 Beyers: 94-90-92)

* Claimed for $50,000 at Keeneland in April, Big John B has already won over 1 3/8 miles on turf at this meeting, in an optional claimer on July 30. The 5-year-old gelding drew off under jockey Mike Smith to win by 7 1/4 lengths.

* While this is a sizeable jump in class, a repeat of that race would make Big John B competitive.

Bright Thought (Last 3 Beyers: 87-87-81)

* Bright Thought will start for trainer Phil D’Amato for the first time on Saturday, having previously been trained by Jorge Gutierrez.

* Bright Thought is winless in six races, all stakes, since winning the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes over 1 1/2 miles on turf at Santa Anita in March 2013.

* In his most recent start, Bright Thought was third in the Wickerr Stakes over a mile, closing well through the stretch.