Whether for flag and country or cold, hard cash, American owners and trainers keep trying to spread their wings aboard, sometimes to great success, more often to no avail.

To afford a full four-week gap between the Breeders’ Cup and the stakes that mark New York’s last truly big racing weekend until the spring, the New York Racing Association chose this year to move Aqueduct’s Cigar Mile, Remsen, and Demoiselle out of their traditional spots on Thanksgiving weekend and run them instead on the first Saturday in December.

“Come over here.”

Ron McAnally was at Bayakoa’s stall, late one quiet morning at Hollywood Park. Bayakoa was hanging her head over the webbing, eyelids drooping, as her trainer caressed her cheek.

“Ever feel anything so soft?” McAnally asked, inviting a visitor to see for himself.

The answer was no. Not a baby’s bottom. Not the finest down. Not a kitten’s tummy. That soft.

Before the tide of history washes over last weekend’s action at Del Mar, there were two performances that deserve note, and that might have been ignored in the wave of successful East Coast invaders, since both were local productions. Then again, neither the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap nor the Grade 3 Native Diver attracted the slightest interest from out of town.

It’s okay now. The coast is clear. All the bad men have taken their horses and gone home. Yes, Del Mar was left smoldering like a village plundered by Cossacks. But at least they left behind the sun, the sand, and the cool blue of an unsympathetic Pacific Ocean.

Modern commerce tells us that’s it’s never too early to start shopping. For anything.

In that spirit, take a look at the dozen turf fillies and mares going postward Sunday at Del Mar in the $300,000 Matriarch. They won’t be parading with “Make Best Offer” signs draped around their necks, but they might as well be.

Big Score has some issues with Sharp Samurai his people hope to resolve on Saturday in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar.

It’s not personal, Sonny. Strictly business. Both 3-year-olds are as honest as the day is long. But after two encounters that went perfect for Sharp Samurai and less than ideal for Big Score, one last shot this year is all trainer Tim Yakteen and owner George Krikorian are asking.

Every trainer wants a Juddmonte horse. Juddmonte horses have names like Arrogate, Enable, and Frankel. Most trainers would settle for a second-, third-, or fourth-string Juddmonte horse, just to see what it feels like to wade around for a while in the world’s most successful stable.

Out West, Jack Carava’s got himself a Juddmonte horse … sort of.

“Call it six degrees of separation,” Carava said with a laugh.

The crew is still a little giddy at the Pete Miller barn at San Luis Rey Downs, even these two weeks after winning the Breeders’ Cup Sprint with Roy H and finishing 1-2 in the Turf Sprint with Stormy Liberal and Richard’s Boy.

On Friday morning, a playful Richard’s Boy was getting a bath, his mottled gray coat showing signs of cool nights, while Stormy Liberal tortured his hay rack nearby and took toothy shots at anyone dumb enough to pass within range. No one took them seriously.

The death this week of Lure, a superb Thoroughbred who meant so much to so many, served to open the floodgates of certain memories. Every fan has a horse like Lure to cling to, as the rock upon which is built a lifelong appreciation of true greatness in the breed, both on and off the track.

My rock was Damascus, and I am not alone. Half a century ago, the son of Sword Dancer took the 1967 season by the throat and would not let go until he had won 12 of 16 starts, racing from March into November, while setting an all-time earnings mark of $817,941 for a season.