Ward undecided about Oceanside for Hootenanny, Luck of the Kitten

Hootenanny and Luck of the Kitten, the first two finishers of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita last November, have been nominated for the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar next Thursday, but trainer Wesley Ward said a decision on their participation might not be made until this weekend.

The July 16 program is the opening day at Del Mar. Entries for the opening program will be taken Sunday. The Los Alamitos summer meeting closes Sunday.

Ward said that if Hootenanny and Luck of the Kitten do not start in the Oceanside, for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf, a secondary plan for one of them is the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf Aug. 9.

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Hootenanny was 11th of 18 as the 9-4 favorite in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup for 3-year-olds at six furlongs at Royal Ascot on June 19. Luck of the Kitten was 11th of 16 as a 25-1 shot in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Royal Ascot on June 17.

The Oceanside Stakes is restricted to 3-year-olds who have not won a stakes worth $50,000 to the winner at a mile or longer this year.

Among the leading contenders are Papacoolpapacool, who won the Pasadena and La Puente stakes at Santa Anita this year, and Soul Driver, who won the Singletary Stakes there June 20. Papacoolpapacool was seventh in the Grade 3 Penn Mile at Penn National on May 30.