SADLER DOUBLES DOWN

SADLER DOUBLES DOWN ON CHANCES FOR SECOND CLASSIC WIN

If it’s an odd-numbered year then count on John Sadler to have an even number of starters in the TVG Pacific Classic.

Such was the case in 2013 when Sadler saddled Kettle Corn and You Know I Know to finish second and third behind runaway winner Game On Dude in the $1 million signature event of the Del Mar summer meeting.

And again in 2015 when Hard Aces and Class Leader, who came in sixth and seventh in the Wake of Beholder.

And yet again in 2017 when Accelerate placed third and Hard Aces fifth to Collected.

Last year Sadler needed only Accelerate to notch his first TVG Pacific Classic victory from 12 starters and it came by a thoroughly convincing, romping 12 ½ lengths over the 1 ¼-mile distance.

Now it’s 2019, and Sadler has reverted to recent form. He’ll saddle Higher Power (8-1) and Campaign (6-1) with the aim of making it back-to-back Classic wins. If Higher Power does the trick, it will also be two in a row for his major client, Hronis Racing.

Both horses prepped for the Classic during the first six days of the meeting. Higher Power, a 4-year-old son of Medaglia d’Oro, finished second in the Wickerr, a one mile turf race. Campaign won the 1 ½-mile Cougar II Handicap on the main track.

“Campaign has had a win over the track, which I think is important,” Sadler said. “Higher Power we think is improving and it’s kind of a ‘gut’ call to put him in there. Fingers crossed, we’re looking forward to getting them going.”

Campaign, a 4-year-old son of Curlin owned by Woodford Racing, has five wins in 10 starts and earnings of $394,753. Two of his three wins in 2019 were at 1 ½ miles,  so the distance is not a question. Higher Power has four wins in 12 starts with earnings of $200,648. Coming off two turf mile races, he’s likely to show speed and be part of the early pace picture.

Higher Power drew the No. 6 post and will have meet-leading rider Flavien Prat up. Campaign will break from No. 8 under Rafael Bejarano, who has been aboard for his last four races in Southern California.

“The posts are fine, no problems,” Sadler said.  “Posts shouldn’t really be a factor in this race – a mile and a quarter with a good, long run to the turn. There’s plenty of opportunity for everyone to get settled.”

The field from the rail: War Story (Tiago Pereira, 8-1), Quip (Florent Geroux, 9-2), Pavel (Mario Gutierrez, 7-2), For the Top (Martin Garcia, 12-1), Seeking the Soul (John Velazquez, 3-1), Higher Power (Flavien Prat, 8-1), Tenfold (Mike Smith, 8-1), Campaign (Rafael Bejarano, 6-1), Mongolian Groom (Abel Cedillo, 20-1) and Draft Pick (Joe Talamo, 20-1).

The TVG Pacific Classic goes as the 10th on an 11-race program with a scheduled 6:35 post time.

BROWN FILLY LOOMS LARGE IN GRADE I DEL MAR OAKS

Cambier Parc, a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro conditioned by Chad Brown, the nation’s leading trainer for money earnings, was tabbed the 5-2 favorite in a capacity field of 14 for Saturday’s $300,000 Grade I Del Mar Oaks presented by The Jockey Club.

Cambier Parc, a $1.25 million purchase at the Keeneland September sale in 2017, raced only once at two but has three wins in five 2019 starts. Two of the victories were in Grade III stakes and she enters the race off a third-place performance in the Belmont Oaks in July.

Through Wednesday, Equibase figures had Brown with 129 wins from 488 starters and earnings of $17,932,501. Steve Asmussen is No. 2 in the North American trainer standings with 251 wins from 1,312 starters and $16,507549 in earnings.

The Oaks field from the rail: Cambier Parc (John Velazquez, 5-2), Maxim Rate (Brice Blanc, 20-1), Strike at Dawn (Geovanni Franco, 20-1), Hard Legacy (Julien Leparoux, 12-1), Raymundos Secret (Florent Geroux, 10-1), Keeper Ofthe Stars (Abel Cedillo, 10-1), Dogtag (Drayden Van Dyke, 8-1), Apache Princess (Kent Desormeaux, 10-1), Sold It (Mario Gutierrez, 30-1), Mucho Unusual (Mike Smith, 5-1), Lady Prancealot (Joe Talamo, 8-1), Out Of Balance (Victor Espinoza, 20-1), Wildlife (Rafael Bejarano, 30-1) and Hidden Message (Flavien Prat, 8-1).

The Oaks goes as the ninth on an 11-race program.

CHICAGO INVADER FAVORED IN DEL MAR HANDICAP

Argentine-bred The Great Day, runner-up in the Arlington Handicap on July 13 in his second U.S. start, was installed as the 5-2 favorite on oddsmaker Russ Hudak’s opening line for Saturday’s Grade II $250,000 Del Mar Handicap presented by the Japan Racing Association.

A 5-year-old son of Harlan’s Holiday trained by Arnaud Delacour, The Great Day was a multiple Group I winner in Argentina, racing at distances up to 1 ½ miles and was beaten only 1 ¾ lengths in the 1 3/16-mile Arlington Handicap.

The field from the rail: Oscar Dominguez (Joe Talamo, 12-1), Ritzy A.P. (Martin Garcia, 12-1), Blended Citizen (Aaron Gryder, 20-1), Marckie’s Water (Tiago Pereira, 7-2), United (Flavien Prat, 3-1), The Great Day (John Velazquez, 5-2), Itsinthepost (Drayden Van Dyke, 7-2), Arizona Moon (Evin Roman, 30-1) and Acclimate (Florent Geroux, 12-1).

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

FIELD OF 11 SET FOR SUNDAY’S DEL MAR MILE

Bolo, the wire-to-wire, upset winner of the Shoemaker Mile on May 27 at Santa Anita, will face 10 rivals in Sunday’s Grade II $200,000 Del Mar Mile to complete a weekend of six graded stakes races.

A 7-year-old gelded son of Temple City trained by Carla Gaines, Bolo led all the way under Florent Geroux in the Shoemaker at odds of 33-1 to win in only his second start after being out of racing for nearly two years, clocking 1:34.07 for the distance.

The field from the rail: Prince Earl (Geovanni Franco), El Picaro (Drayden Van Dyke), Majestic Eagle (Rafael Bejarano), Bombard (Mike Smith), Bowies Hero (Flavien Prat), Double Touch (Abel Cedillo), Grecian Fire (Kent Desormeaux), What a View (Martin Garcia), Bolo (Florent Geroux), Sharp Samurai (Joe Talamo) and Ohio (John Velazquez).

BAFFERT’S FIGHTING MAD FAVORED IN SATURDAY’S TORREY PINES

Gary and Mary West’s homebred Fighting Mad, a daughter of New Year’s Day trained by Bob Baffert, was established as the narrow 5-2 favorite in a field of eight for Saturday’s Grade III $100,000 Torrey Pines Stakes at a mile on the main track for 3-year-old fillies.

Fighting Mad was a winner in her racing debut at Del Mar on August 25 of last year and, after spring starts at Churchill Downs and Pimlico, returned West with a runner-up finish in a fast allowance here on July 19.

The field from the rail: Into Chocolate (Mike Smith, 10-1), High Regard (Rafael Bejarano, 12-1), Classic Fit (Florent Geroux, 3-1), Hollywood Hills (Julien Leparoux, 12-1), Colonial Creed (Victor Espinoza, 8-1), Sneaking Out  (Drayden Van Dyke, 7-2), Fighting Mad (Joe Talamo, 5-2) and Kim K (Flavien Prat, 5-1).

The Torrey Pines is the eighth race on the card.

UNDRAFTED SETTLES IN FOR GREEN FLASH BATTLE

Undrafted, a Kentucky-bred Purim gelding, arrived Monday for  Saturday’s Grade III $100,000 Green Flash Handicap and has settled in nicely for the five-furlong turf sprint.

“He’s nine years old and he’s been a lot of places, so not much bothers him,” said Blake Heap, who handles West Coast shippers for trainer Wesley Ward. “He’s a nice little horse, easy to get along with.”

The Green Flash will be the 42nd start in a career which has produced nine wins and more than $1.5 million in earnings. Heap has been around for many of the major events, among them a trip to Royal Ascot in 2018.

Undrafted is part owned by Wes Welker, who was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2004 and went on to titles with the New England Patriots. He is now retired and a coach with the San Francisco 49ers.

The field from the rail: Calexman (Geovanni Franco, 12-1), Stormy Liberal (Drayden Van Dyke, 8-5), Undrafted (Victor Espinoza, 5-1), Shades Of Victory (Ruben Fuentes, 20-1), Eddie Haskell (Kent Desormeaux, 9-5) and Mr Vargas (Joe Talamo, 3-1).

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

KRONE’S SATURDAY: BOOK SIGNING FOLLOWED BY PINCAY AWARD

Julie Krone, the most accomplished female rider in the history of Thoroughbred racing, will have her praises sung twice at Del Mar next Saturday when she’ll be presented the prestigious Laffit Pincay, Jr. Award and take part in the signing of a new book written about her 2003 season at Del Mar -- highlighted by her triumph in that year’s Pacific Classic on Candy Ride -- entitled “One Sweet Ride.

The resident of nearby Carlsbad, CA, first will take part in the signing of her book, which tells the story of her exceptional year of riding at Del Mar, including her record-breaking tally in the Pacific Classic aboard Sid and Jenny Craig’s Candy Ride. Her husband, turf writer Jay Hovdey, wrote “One Sweet Ride” and will join his wife and Jenny Craig in signing copies of the book that afternoon. Krone and Hovdey will sign books from noon to 1 p.m. in the Plaza de Mexico near the large fountain, then shift to the Clubhouse entranceway and be joined by Jenny Craig for more signing from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Following that, Krone, 56, will be honored in the Del Mar winner’s circle for being selected as the 16th winner of the Pincay Award. On hand to give it to her will be fellow Hall of Famer Pincay, now 72, who retired in 2003 after having compiled a world record 9,530 victories. Joining them for the ceremony will be Candy Ride’s “connections,” owner Craig and the horse’s Hall of Fame trainer, Ron McAnally. Also in the gathering will be Del Mar’s Hall of Fame riders, Mike Smith, Kent Desormeaux, Alex Solis and Victor Espinoza.  

ROTHBLUM, VUKMANOVICH HEAD WEEKEND HANDICAPPING SEMINARS

Steve Rothblum and Leo Vukmanovich will provide the opinions and selections for the upcoming weekend handicapping seminars Saturday and Sunday.

Rothblum, a member of Team O’Neill, trainer Doug O’Neill’s group of assistants and advisers, will do the honors on Saturday. Vukmanovich, an owner and horse player will be Frank Scatoni’s guest on Sunday.

The free seminars are held from 12:45-1:30 p.m. at the Seaside Terrace near the head of the stretch.

CLOSERS – Selected works from 115 officially timed Thursday morning: For the Top (3f, :36.00), Paradise Woods (4f, :48.60), Boujie Girl (5f, 1:01.40), Eight Rings (5f, 1:00.40) and Flor de La Mar (6f, 1:13.60).