Two optional claimers highlight Thursday card

It is a quiet weekday at Del Mar when the main development is a change in first post to 1 p.m. The new start time, an hour earlier than normal, begins Thursday and continues through closing day, Sept. 11. The exceptions are Fridays, when first post is 3 p.m.

Thursday’s program is made up mostly of claiming races and includes a dirt mile for California-bred allowance fillies and mares and a second-level allowance/optional $80,000 claiming turf sprint in which the main contenders are on the also-eligible list.

In race 2, the California-bred allowance, Lilly Babe stretches out following a promising runner-up sprint that was her first start in nine months. Kristin Mulhall trains Lilly Babe, a full sibling to California-bred route stakes winner Loving Lynda. Umberto Rispoli rides Lilly Babe.

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Ko Olina, runner-up in a similar California-bred allowance last out, is expected to set the pace under Edwin Maldonado. She’s a Joker makes her third start of the meet following a pair of thirds. The others in the field are Warrior’s Moon, Busker Allie, and Northern Gem.

Race 4, a $50,000 maiden-claiming sprint, includes the most probable winner on the card. Famous Star drops in class after a compromising trip as the favorite in a maiden special weight. He did not produce his typical speed, raced greenly while uncomfortable taking dirt, rallied wide, and finished fourth.

Famous Star meets easier Thursday and is reunited with regular rider Ramon Vazquez. Famous Star is trained by John Sadler, whose five most recent favorites dropping from special weight to maiden claiming produced four wins and a second. Famous Star’s main rivals are going turf to dirt – An Army of Light, Laughing Legacy, and Mastermind.

Race 7 is the second-level allowance/optional-claiming turf sprint. Five of the 11 entrants are nominated to the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap on Sunday, including three on the also-eligible list Thursday – Yes He Can, Give Me the Lute, and Chasin Munny. Green Flash-nominated Thursday entrants Gypsy King and Commander are in the body of the race.

Yes He Can finished a better-than-looked third last out in a similar spot. He dueled for the lead, shook off his pace rivals, and was collared by a pair of closers. Although the turf rails move to the outermost 30-foot setting Thursday, that does not necessarily favor speed.

Only two of the eight rails-at-30 turf sprints this summer were won by the pacesetter, while 10 of 23 turf sprints at other settings (0, 12, 18, 24 feet) were won by the pacesetter. Pending scratches, comebacker Gypsy King could be favored in race 7.