Seeking the Soul

FIELD OF 10 SET FOR SATURDAY’S $1 MILLION TVG PACIFIC CLASSIC

Seeking the Soul drew the No. 5 spot in a field of 10 and was established as the  3-1 morning line favorite at the post position draw party Tuesday for Saturday’s $1 million TVG Pacific Classic.

The 29^th running of the signature event of the summer season will go as the 10th race on an 11-race program on a day that includes four other graded stakes and a beach blanket giveaway for Diamond Club members. Post time for the TVG Pacific Classic is 6:35 p.m. Pacific.

Seeking the Soul, a 6-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Perfect Soul, has earnings of more than $3.3 million in a 27-race career that includes a trip to Dubai for the $12 million World Cup this year. Owned by Charles E. Fipke and trained by Dallas Stewart, Seeking the Soul enters the TVG Pacific Classic off a win in the Stephen Foster Handicap in June at Churchill Downs.

If all 10 start it would be the sixth double-digit Classic field since 2010 topped by the 12-horse assembly of 2012. A look by post positions from the rail.

War Story (8-1, Tiago Pereira) – Trainer Jorge Navarro and the 7-year-old Northern Afleet gelding journeyed from New Jersey on Tuesday to receive an unfriendly draw. “I don’t like it, but what are you going to do?” Navarro said. Then, smiling, “Hope he breaks well and a couple of the speed horses don’t?”

Quip (Florent Geroux, 9-2) – Runner-up to Seeking the Soul in the Stephen Foster, the 4-year-old Distorted Humor colt, trained by Rodolphe Brisset for Winstar Farm and China Horse Club, could secure a spot in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic that was narrowly missed in June. Both the Stephen Foster and TVG Pacific Classic are “Win and You’re In” qualifiers for the BC Classic.

Pavel (Mario Gutierrez, 7-2) – Well-beaten second to Accelerate in the 2018 Classic, the lifetime earner of more than $2 million, trained by Doug O’Neill for J. Paul Reddam, makes his third start since returning from a fourth-place finish in the Dubai World Cup. “Three’s a great spot for him, he’s doing well and if he runs his race he’ll be tough to deal with,” said Team O’Neill representative Steve Rothblum.

For the Top (Martin Garcia, 12-1) – Recent Argentine import trained by five-time Classic winner Bob Baffert for RRR Racing of Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al Nuamai prepped with a third in the 1 ½-mile Cougar II Handicap on July 24. Richard’s Kid followed up a Cougar with a win in the 2010 Classic, the third of Baffert’s five. “I’m a longshot, but I’d like to see the horse run well and we’re keeping him on the dirt,” Baffert said.

Seeking the Soul (John Velazquez, 3-1) – Stewart expressed pleasure with both the post and the pre-race situation. "My horse is doing good, he's training good and I expect a big race from him Saturday."

Higher Power (Flavien Prat, 8-1) – One of two entrants for trainer John Sadler, who won in 2018 with Accelerate, the 4-year-old son of Medaglia d’Oro, owned by Hronis Racing, was second in the Wickerr Handicap on July 21 and gets the services of meet-leading jockey Flavien Prat. “The way this year has been going, it’s like the ‘Higher Power’ has been on our shoulder the whole time,” said Derek Lawson, Prat’s agent. Prat won the Kentucky Derby with Country House via the disqualification of Maximum Security and then rode One Bad Boy to victory in the Queen’s Plate, first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.

Tenfold (Mike Smith, 8-1) – One of four horses shipped in for the race, the 4-year-old son of Curlin trained by Steve Asmussen for Winchell Thoroughbreds won the Pimlico Special in June. A victory by Mike Smith would be his fifth in the Classic, breaking a tie with Garrett Gomez for the most by a jockey. “I like the post and even though I’ve never been on the horse before, sometimes the first time I ride them is the time I get the most out of them,” Smith said. “I’m going to try, anyway.”

Campaign (Rafael Bejarano,  6-1) – The 4-year-old son of Curlin, trained by John Sadler for Woodford Racing, punched his Classic ticket with a victory in the Cougar II. He gives Bejarano a chance for a first win in the race after going 0-for-9 to this point.

Mongolian Groom (Abel Cedillo, 20-1) – It will be the sixth straight graded stakes in eight 2019 starts for the 4-year-old gelded son of Hightail. A $12,000 purchase at the Ocala sale in the spring of 2017, Mongolian Groom is set to top $250,000 in earnings for trainer Enebish Ganbat and Mongolian Stable. Jockey Abel Cedillo is in his first full summer at Del Mar and is fresh from winning the Grade III Longacres Mile on Sunday aboard Law Abidin’ Citizen for trainer Mark Glatt.

Draft Pick (Joe Talamo, 20-1) – The 4-year-old son of Candy Ride stayed close to Catalina Cruiser through most of the San Diego Handicap before settling for third. A first TVG Pacific Classic starter for trainer Peter Eurton and eighth mount for Joe Talamo, who has yet to hit the board. “I’m not saddened by the post. Being outside in a mile and a quarter race, with a long run to the turn, is not that bad.” Eurton said. “It could have been worse. It could have been the one and I hate the one. He’s got tactical speed and it’ll be up to Joe once the gate opens.”

FULL FIELD OF 14 ENTERED FOR GRADE I DEL MAR OAKS

Mucho Unusual, a change-of-tactics last-to-first winner of the Grade II $200,000 San Clemente Stakes on July 20, will be facing her stiffest competition in the biggest field of her career in Saturday’s  $300,000 Del Mar Oaks.

The second Grade I, along with the TVG Pacific Classic, on a day of five graded stakes, reached the maximum of 14 entries Wednesday morning.

Mucho Unusual, a daughter of Mucho Macho Man bred and owned by George Krikorian and trained by Tim Yakteen, went counter to a previous forwardly-placed running style in sweeping from 10^th to first in the San Clemente. Her fourth victory in seven career starts came at the expense of fellow Oaks probables Apache Princess and Over Emphasize.

In addition to the locally-based rivals, Mucho Unusual figures to face great challenges from out-of-state shippers Dog Tag, from the stable of the nation’s leading trainer, Chad Brown, and Hard Legacy, trained by Norm Casse.

In two starts this year, Dog Tag, a daughter of War Front, won the ungraded Hilltop at Pimlico and was third in the Grade III Lake George at Saratoga. Hard Legacy, a daughter of Hard Spun, comes in off a front-running victory in the Grade III Regret in June at Churchill Downs.

The field from the rail: Cambier Parc (John Velazquez), Maxim Rate (Brice Blanc), Strike at Dawn (Geovanni Franco), Hard Legacy (Julien Leparoux), Raymundos Secret (Florent Geroux), Keeper Ofthe Stars (Abel Cedillo), Dogtag (Drayden Van Dyke), Apache Princess (Kent Desormeaux), Sold It (Mario Gutierrez), Mucho Unusual (Mike Smith), Lady Prancealot (Joe Talamo), Out Of Balance (Victor Espinoza), Wildlife (Rafael Bejarano) and Hidden Message (Flavien Prat).

The Oaks will go as the ninth race on the program.

MARCKIE’S WATER, UNITED TO MEET AGAIN IN DM HANDICAP

Marckie’s Water and United, the 1-2 finishers in the Grade II Charlie Whittingham at Santa Anita on May 25, are part of a field of nine for Saturday’s Grade II $250,000 Del Mar Handicap by The Japanese Racing Association.

Both horses have had a race over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course in preparation for Saturday’s 1 3/8-mile marathon which is a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Marckie’s Water, a 5-year-old son of Tribal Rule trained by Richard Baltas for Little Red Feather Racing and partners, was second to Bowies Hero in the Grade II Eddie Read Stakes on July 21. United, a 4-year-old Giant’s Causeway gelding, won a 1 1/8-mile allowance on the opening day, July 17, card.

The field from the rail: Oscar Dominguez (Joe Talamo), Ritzy A.P. (Martin Garcia), Blended Citizen (Aaron Gryder), Marckie’s Water (Tiago Pereira), United (Flavien Prat), The Great Day (John Velazquez), Itsinthepost (Drayden Van Dyke), Arizona Moon (Evin Roman) and Acclimate (Florent Geroux).

The Del Mar Handicap goes as the seventh race, kicking off a string of four straight Graded Stakes.

STORMY LIBERAL COMEBACK PLANNED IN GREEN FLASH

Two-time defending Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint champion Stormy Liberal will end a five-month layoff to defend his championship in the $100,000 Green Flash Handicap on Saturday, one of two Grade III events on the Pacific Classic Day program.

Trainer Peter Miller has set a similar race schedule to 2018 for Stormy Liberal, a 7-year-old Stormy Atlantic gelding whose back-to-back Breeders’ Cup triumphs have boosted earnings to more than $2.1 million for owners Rockingham Ranch and David A. Bernsen.

Last year, the five-furlong Green Flash was the second start at Del Mar, both wins, for Stormy Liberal and his third after returning from Dubai and a runner-up performance in the $1 million sprint on the World Cup program.

This year, Stormy Liberal has been freshened since a third-place result in Dubai and trained up to the Green Flash at San Luis Rey Downs and here.

The field from the rail: Calexman (Geovanni Franco), Stormy Liberal (Drayden Van Dyke), Undrafted (Victor Espinoza), Shades Of Victory (Ruben Fuentes), Eddie Haskell (Kent Desormeaux) and Mr Vargas (Joe Talamo).

The Green Flash is scheduled as the third race of the day.

Michael Stidham-trained Classic Fit, runner-up in the Grade II Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park in June, will be the focus of much attention in the $100,000 Torrey Pines Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, the other Grade III on the card.

Classic Fit, a daughter of Bernardini, has three wins in five lifetime starts and has won from both on and off the pace.

The field from the rail: Into Chocolate (Mike Smith), High Regard (Rafael Bejarano), Classic Fit (Florent Geroux), Hollywood Hills (Julien Leparoux), Colonial Creed (Victor Espinoza), Sneaking Out  (Drayden Van Dyke), Fighting Mad (Joe Talamo) and Kim K (Flavien Prat).

The Torrey Pines is the eighth race on the card.

OMAHA BEACH ON TRACK FOR SHARED BELIEF

Omaha Beach worked six furlongs in 1:13.60 for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella Monday morning and is on schedule for his first start since winning the Arkansas Derby in April in the $100,000 Shared Belief Stakes Sunday, August 25.

Omaha Beach will be making a comeback from an entrapped epiglottis that forced the expected Kentucky Derby favorite to be withdrawn days before the Run for the Roses.

CLOSERS – Selected works from 273 officially timed the last three mornings: Monday – American Anthem (5f, :59.60), Isotherm (5f, 1:01.00), The Street Fighter (5f, 1:01.60), Omaha Beach (6f, 1:13.60); Tuesday – Big Mel (4f, :47.00), Lord Adare (4f, :47.00), Extra Hope (5f, :59.80), King Jack (5f, :59.60), Game Winner (6f, 1:12.00); Wednesday – Big Score (5f, 1:00.80), Mucho Gusto (6f, 1:13.60).

DEL MAR STATISTICS

Jockey Standings

(Current Through Sunday, August 11, 2019 Inclusive)

Trainer Standings

(Current Through Sunday, August 11, 2019 Inclusive)

Winning Favorites Report

(Current Through Sunday, August 11, 2019 Inclusive)

Winning favorites -- 63 out of 161 -- 39.13%

Winning favorites on dirt -- 41 out of 94 -- 43.62%

Winning favorites on turf -- 22 out of 67 -- 32.84%

Winning odds-on favorites -- 18 out of 31 -- 58.06%

In-the-Money favorites -- 115 out of 161 -- 71.43%

In-the-Money odds-on favorites -- 29 out of 31 -- 93.55%