Barnes, a Grade 2 stakes winner in January who has not raced since a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in April, worked six furlongs in 1:12 at Del Mar on Friday in preparation for a scheduled start in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 23.

The $500,000 Jerkens is run at seven furlongs and is one of the nation’s leading sprints for 3-year-olds.

Barnes has had a series of fast works in recent weeks, including five furlongs in 59 seconds at Del Mar on July 26.

The 2-year-old Medici will start for the first time in what seems to be a deep maiden race at six furlongs at Del Mar on Sunday.

Medici, trained by Richard Mandella for owners and breeders Ramona and Perry Bass, has the credentials to win, provided he can beat two well-regarded runners trained by Bob Baffert in Buetane and Falcon Jet as well as three other rivals.

Mandella has seen enough from Medici in recent weeks to expect a winning performance.

Del Mar stewards have suspended Vincent Cheminaud and Mirco Demuro for riding infractions earlier this month.

Cheminaud, who rode the opening weekend at Del Mar, was cited for “crossing over without sufficient clearance soon after the start, causing interference” aboard Itzel in the fourth race on July 18, the first day of the season.

Itzel was disqualified from fourth to 10th. Cheminaud, who is currently riding at Colonial Downs in Virginia, is suspended Saturday and Sunday and Thursday, Aug. 7.

Check’s On the Way will have his stakes debut in Friday’s $150,000 Real Good Deal Stakes at Del Mar and the gelding could be on a path to the winner’s circle from trainer Simon Callaghan’s perspective.

Check’s On the Way has won three of six starts this year, with all the wins in sprints. Those results have left Callaghan confident of a strong performance by Check’s On the Way from off the pace in the Real Good Deal, run at seven furlongs for California-bred 3-year-olds.

It was the claiming gamble of the year in California.

On May 11 at Santa Anita, owner Les Blake and trainer Jeff Mullins claimed the 8-year-old Lammas for $80,000 from a one-mile allowance race on turf. Lammas finished fourth that day after a wide trip.

On Saturday, Lammas has his first start for Blake and Mullins in an allowance race at 1 3/8 miles on turf in which veteran gelding is eligible to be claimed for $100,000.

Lammas, a five-time stakes winner, will start at 1 3/8 miles on turf for the first time. He drew the outside post in a field of eight.

Straight No Chaser, the champion sprinter of 2024, is likely to have his first American start of the year in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Sept. 28, trainer Dan Blacker said on Thursday.

“It looks like that’s the target right now,” Blacker said.

Straight No Chaser won the Santa Anita Sprint Championship and Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar in consecutive starts last fall to clinch the championship. The BC Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 1 is another year-end goal.

“We’re trying to figure out the best path to that,” Blacker said.

Led by the 2025 graded stakes winners Kopion, Richi, Royal Spa, and Seismic Beauty, Saturday’s Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes for fillies and mares at Del Mar has a projected field of seven.

The $400,000 Hirsch Stakes, run at 1 1/16 miles, is the leading race for fillies and mare at the summer meeting. The winner receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

Aside from the four current year graded stakes winners, other expected runners are Little Hidden Port, Nothing Like You, and Mahina.