Fields are full for the start of the Del Mar summer meet on Friday, including a deep edition of the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes, a restricted turf mile for 3-year-olds that is the traditional feature on opening day.
Iron Man Cal, runner-up last fall in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar, stakes-placed Cali Cat, and improved Day and Age are among the favorites in the 10-runner Oceanside. Average field size for Friday’s 10-race card is 10 runners per race, not counting also-eligibles.
Iron Man Cal finished a creditable sixth in his May 3 comeback in the Grade 1 American Turf at Churchill Downs, his first start since the Breeders’ Cup. Jockey Antonio Fresu told trainer Phil D’Amato that Iron Man Cal was uncomfortable with the wet turf course.
“It poured all week, and Fresu said he was spinning his wheels a little bit on that turf,” D’Amato said. “He likes it hard.”
D’Amato has won the Oceanside three times. He led the recently concluded Santa Anita meet and the Del Mar summer standings two of the last three years.
Cali Cat is trained by John Sadler, the all-time second-leading trainer at Del Mar and five-time winner of the Oceanside. Cali Cat shortens to a mile following a runner-up finish in the 1 1/8-mile Snow Chief Stakes for California-bred 3-year-olds on May 24 at Santa Anita. Cali Cat’s rider is Vincent Cheminaud.
Day and Age, 2 for 2 since switching to turf, is trained by Richard Mandella. Mike Smith rides.
The Oceanside, race 8, is the first leg of a new $3 daily wager at Del Mar. The track added a 15 percent takeout pick three on the final three races. Del Mar also added a $5 late double with a 15 percent takeout on the final two races daily.
Larry Collmus replaces recently retired Trevor Denman as the permanent Del Mar announcer. John Lies is the new Del Mar linemaker.
Endlessly tops likely Wickerr field
Multiple Grade 3 winner Endlessly is among the likely starters in the restricted $100,000 Wickerr Stakes, a mile turf race, on Saturday at Del Mar. Michael McCarthy trains Endlessly, who finished fifth in the Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes on June 8 at Saratoga.
The 4-year-old will face a deep Wickerr field expected to include Air Force Red, Astronomer, Final Boss, and Watsonville.
The Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes for 3-year-old turf fillies is the main race Saturday. Contenders for the one-mile San Clemente include likely favorite Thought Process and Will Then. Entries for the San Clemente and Wickerr were to be taken Wednesday.