Two maiden races feature promising talent

DEL MAR, Calif. – While the focus among 2-year-olds on Saturday’s card at Del Mar will be on the featured Bob Hope Stakes, there are a number of promising maidens in two 6 1/2-furlong races. The racing office was forced to split the race into two divisions because 17 horses entered.

Eight are in race 3, nine are in race 7, and both feature a mix of horses who showed promise before brief vacations, or first-time starters who have trained well.

In race 3, Mark Glatt-trained Law Abidin Citizen, a son of Twirling Candy, returns after two encouraging efforts to begin his career during the summer. At Del Mar, he was third in a wickedly fast maiden race in which Chasing Aces defeated Straight Fire. (In his next start, Chasing Aces was pulled up in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and had to be euthanized.) Law Abidin Citizen is adding blinkers for his comeback.

His rivals include Blame Joe, third during the summer at Del Mar for trainer Kristin Mulhall in his lone start. Newcomers to watch in that race include Fielder, a Sidney’s Candy colt from the crop of 2-year-olds that Juddmonte Farms has placed with trainer Bob Baffert, and Little Juanito, an Exchange Rate colt Victor Garcia trains for his father, Juan.

Race 7 finds the comebacking Honor and Courage meeting the well-regarded newcomer Match Play. Honor and Courage, an Unbridled’s Song colt trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, raced twice during the summer meet, finishing third second time out. Match Play, a son of Mineshaft trained by Baffert, boasts three bullet drills in his last five works.

Other intriguing newcomers in race 7 are Bobby Abu Dhabi, a Macho Uno colt trained by Peter Miller who cost $335,000 at auction earlier this year, and Adorned, an Uncle Mo colt who cost $220,000 at auction.

“I think he’s a nice colt, but I think he wants two turns,” Eddie Truman, who trains Adorned, said Thursday morning. “He trains like a good horse. He’s got a good mind.”