DEL MAR, Calif. - A string of winning outsiders on Thursday at Del Mar has created a pick six carryover of $111,414 for Friday's eight-race program. Friday's card begins at 4 p.m.
Here's a glance at Friday's card, with the changes from Thursday's scratch time.
The third race is the first turf route of the meeting. Run over 1 3-8 miles on turf, the race drew eight claimers entered for $35,000 to $40,000. Golden Rahy, trained by Bobby Frankel, is the 3-1 favorite.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Just when it seemed that Island Fashion's career had taken a turn for the worse, she nearly pulled an upset at 14-1 in the Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park on July 3.
Later that day, Ticker Tape overcame trouble to finish a game second to Intercontinental in the Grade 3 Royal Heroine Stakes on turf.
Those performances encouraged their respective trainers to think that can give Intercontinental fits in Saturday's $400,000 John Mabee Handicap at Del Mar.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Few people were more eager to get to Del Mar this summer than trainer John Sadler, whose Hollywood Park meeting was far below his standards. The fresh start afforded by moving here coincides with the return to action of Lady Truffles, last year's California Cup Juvenile Fillies winner, who will make her first start since November on Saturday in the $100,000 Fleet Treat Stakes.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Minister Eric, the winner of the Grade 2 San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes at Santa Anita in January, will miss a scheduled start in Sunday's $250,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar because of a swollen ankle, trainer Richard Mandella said.
Minister Eric's defection from the San Diego cast a pall over the Mandella barn on Thursday. Mandella won the second division of the Oceanside Stakes on opening day Wednesday with unbeaten El Roblar.
Mandella said tests on the horse's left ankle would determine the extent of the injury.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Two and a quarter lengths separated Smuggler, Spun Sugar, and Summerly at the finish of the Grade 1 Mother Goose, a 1 1/8-mile race on June 25. On Saturday at Belmont, all three will be back, but they will have to get another furlong in the Grade 1, $500,000 .
Nine 3-year-old fillies entered the CCA Oaks. Also entered are For All We Know, Pleasant Chimes, Capitulation, Seeking the Ante, Bayou Breeze, and Atlas Valley. Bayou Breeze and Spun Sugar are coupled in the wagering.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The Colin Stakes has a storied history. A six-furlong event, it has been won by such outstanding runners as Deputy Minister, Sunny's Halo, La Prevoyante, and Kennedy Road. Last year's winner, Wholelottabourbon, was voted Canadian champion 2-year-old.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner Afleet Alex had a serious piece of work at Belmont Park on Thursday morning. In his second work since winning the Belmont Stakes by seven lengths, Afleet Alex covered a mile over the main track in 1:36.74, handily, according to the Belmont clockers.
Afleet Alex will make his next start in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 7.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The best horses wind up in the richest races, and the $750,000 Virginia Derby was just run last weekend, but still there are eight pretty good ones ready to go Saturday in the Grade 2, $250,000 American Derby.
The race is part of Arlington's three-stakes Million Preview Day, and top to bottom, the Saturday card is the best of this meet, with mind-bending maiden and allowance races wrapped around the American Derby, the Arlington Handicap, and the 11-horse Modesty Handicap.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - No horse ever has come out of the Arlington Handicap to win the Arlington Million - though a couple have run second - and calling Saturday's race a Million prep might be a bit of a misnomer. Most years. But this year, the national turf division lacks depth, and the Arlington Handicap has talent, with , both Grade 2 winners and both Million hopefuls, heading the field.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Trainer Mitch Shirota sounded a little nervous, a little gun-shy.
"She's not in there, right?" Shirota asked Thursday morning.
"She" is Delta Princess, "there" is Saturday's Modest Handicap, and "no" was the answer to Shirota's question.
