The timing of the Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar on July 21 did not fit the summertime race plans for the recent Irish import Panic Alarm.

The Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar is another matter. The $150,000 La Jolla Handicap will be run about a month after Panic Alarm’s arrival at trainer John Sadler’s stable, and the extra few weeks of training in California has made a difference.

“He’s acclimatized to America,” Sadler said. “We thought he need a little bit more time coming off of Royal Ascot.”

Infinite Patience is still the queen at Hastings and probably will remind everyone of that fact in Monday’s BC Cup Distaff over 1 1/16 miles, which drew a tiny field of 4 and will go as the BC Cup card’s second race.

The BC Cup Monday card is comprised of six stakes and three supporting events.

Trainer Robertino Diodoro will be holding a strong hand in Monday’s $125,000 Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia, when he runs Heroic Move and B Minor in the 1 1/8-mile event for 3-year-olds.

Heroic Move, the even-money favorite under Rico Walcott, is a standout on Beyer Speed Figures in the 10-horse field. In his final start for trainer Brad Cox on June 3, the son of Quality Road received a 90 Beyer when third in a first-level allowance with a $100,000 claiming option at Churchill Downs.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mark Casse will take a strength-in-numbers approach into the $100,000 Hamilton Stakes at Woodbine on Sunday, when he runs Eyes On the King, Conman, and Lifetime of Chance in the 7 1/2-furlong inner turf event for 3-year-olds.

Trainer Brad Cox has the favorite Saturday in the Troy Stakes at Saratoga, Caravel, and in the Jersey Shore Stakes at Monmouth in Squire Creek, but that hardly means he has left barren his Kentucky string. Cox has entrants in six races Saturday at Ellis Park, including two of the three $200,000 turf stakes serving as preps for extremely lucrative opportunities at the Kentucky Downs meet later this summer.

Woods N Water and trainer Lee Thomas are both rising to prominence on the Louisiana circuit and on Saturday will attempt to win the main event on the $450,000 Louisiana Cup card at Louisiana Downs.

The $75,000 Turf Classic is the focal point on a program of six Louisiana-bred stakes for various divisions. Woods N Water could start as a slight favorite in the 1 1/16-mile race that drew a highly competitive cast of 12.

“Any of them can win that race,” said Thomas.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After chasing Pretty Mischievous to the wire in both their previous meetings, trainer George Weaver is hoping the third time will be the charm for Dorth Vader when the two 3-year-old fillies hook up once again, this time going seven furlongs, in the Grade 1 Test Stakes Saturday at Saratoga. The prestigious Test, which offers a $500,000 purse, is anything but a two-horse race, bringing together an eight-horse field that also features the undefeated and relatively untested New York-bred Maple Leaf Mel and equally fleet-footed Munnys Gold.

Squire Creek, in from Kentucky for trainer Brad Cox, figures to be heavily favored to win the $100,000 Jersey Shore Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park, but Swirvin, in from Florida by way of Saratoga for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., might have something to say.

Tough beats last weekend in the Jim Dandy and the San Diego. Where did Senor Buscador come from?

Not getting beat this weekend – Cody’s Wish in the Whitney. You’re not supposed to take a price this short on a horse trying something new (nine furlongs, in this case), but Cody’s Wish is relaxed and very fast. He might turn out to be even better at 1 1/8 miles than a mile. Zandon got a sniff, but didn’t make the cut, nor did any of the upset candidates in the Troy, where Caravel might finally take a step back after taking pace pressure.

Test

DEL MAR, Calif. – Although both stakes Saturday at Del Mar are historically among the most predictable races of summer, a challenging pace scenario complicates matters for favorites in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch and $150,000 California Dreamin’.

Hirsch favorites won 14 of 23 since 2000, but front-running favorite Adare Manor is not likely for the same soft trip she exploited in two recent Grade 2 races. The sprinter Elm Drive is expected to set the pace in the Hirsch; Fun to Dream also possesses speed.