DEL MAR DERBY, DARLEY DEBUTANTE, 5 OTHER STAKES TOP WEEK

For those thinking any action at Del Mar would be anticlimactic following the big Pacific Classic, they need only look at the upcoming week's schedule of stakes races to see the fallacy in any such suggestion.

There will be seven stakes races from Wednesday through Sunday as the season winds down into its final full week of action. The schedule is highlighted by the 60th running of the Grade I, $250,000 Darley Debutante for 2-year-old fillies at 7 furlongs on Saturday and the 66th edition of the Grade II, $300,000 Del Mar Derby for 3-year-olds on Sunday.

Along with those major attractions, there will be three $100,000 stakes and a pair of $75,000 events.

Expected to headline the Debutante will be Sorrento Stakes winner Wickedly Perfect, runner-up A Z Warrior and third-place finisher Izshelegal, along with impressive maiden winners Avid and Sugarinthemorning, trained by Hall of Famers Richard Mandella and Ron McAnally, respectively.

Expected to head up the Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf are the undefeated Twirling Candy, impressive winner of the Oceanside Stakes on July 21, and the 2-3-4 finishers in Del Mar's Grade II La Jolla Handicap, Kid Edward, Alphie's Bet and Summer Movie, as well as August 15 maiden winner Royal F J.

The $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes (see below) opens the week's action on Wednesday, followed by the $100,000 El Cajon Stakes on Friday. Supporting Saturday's Debutante is the $75,000 Windy Sands Handicap, and on the undercard for the Del Mar Derby will be the $100,000 Torrey Pines Stakes and the $75,000 Adoration Stakes.