Big Sweep © Benoit Photo

Only five California-bred runners answered the call for Friday’s $125,000 Fleet Treat Stakes, but they’re a closely matched bunch of 3-year-old fillies and it figures to be an interesting tiff as racing returns to Del Mar after a weekend off due to COVID-19 circumstances.

The 34th edition of the seven-furlong Fleet Treat drew the one, two, three finishers from the Melaire Stakes going a mile and one-sixteenth at Santa Anita on June 21 and that trio figures strongly in considerations for the Del Mar dash.

The third-place horse that afternoon – Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temesca’s Big Sweep – has been established a slight 9/5 favorite over the other two, mostly off her two-for-two sprint credentials and the presence of top rider Flavien Prat.  Following close behind is Brown Jr., Klein or Lebherz’s Smiling Shirlee at 2-1 and the Melaire winner, Benjamin and Sally Warren’s Warren’s Showtime, at 7/2.

Rounding out the field are KMN Racing’s Been Studying Her and Nick Alexander’s Loud Loud Music.

Here’s the field from the rail out with riders and weights: 

Been Studying Her (Abel Cedillo, 125); Smiling Shirlee (Mike Smith, 120); Warren’s Showtime (Jorge Velez, 125); Loud Loud Music (Tiago Pereira, 120), and Big Sweep (120).

Besides the Fleet Treat, the Friday card also will feature the $65,000 Daisycutter Handicap at five furlongs on the grass.

The Fleet Treat will be the fourth of 11 races Friday.  First post, just as it will be for all programs during the 2020 meet, is 2 p.m.