An evenly-matched field of ten three-year-olds will battle Sunday in the 75th running of the Grade III $150,000 La Jolla Handicap at a mile and one-sixteenth over Del Mar’s infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course.
Despite the fact he’s never competed over grass, Prospect Park looms a lukewarm favorite in the race which is a steppingstone to the title-deciding $250,000 Del Mar Derby on Sunday, Sept. 6. Kent Desormeaux has the mount on the son of Tapit who most recently was runner-up to Gimme Da Lute in both the Affirmed Stakes and the Los Alamitos Derby, beaten just a half-length and a nose in those respective races.
Prospect Park is co-highweight at 121 pounds with Papacoolpapacool, fifth as the 6-5 favorite in the opening-day Oceanside Stakes. Gary Stevens has the call on Papacoolpapacool, a two-time stakes winner on the grass.
Others in the line-up are Tried and True, 116 and Martin Pedroza; Hero Ten All, 116, Tyler Baze; Om, 120, Fernando Perez; Over Par, 115, Mario Gutierrez; Cross the Line, 117, Rafael Bejarano; Pain and Misery, 118, Martin Garcia; Pretentious, 116, Santiago Gonzalez, and Royal Albert Hall, 117, Flavien Prat.
Post time for the first of nine races Sunday is 2 p.m.