McCann's Mojave, fourth in the Hollywood Gold Cup, took a step toward the Grade I, $1-million Pacific Classic this morning with a sizzling 6-furlong move in 1:10.60 at Golden Gate Fields for trainer Steve Specht.
The 8-year-old California-bred son of Memo, who has posted career purse earnings of $1.5 million, would be making his 36th lifetime start if he goes in Del Mar's signature event Sunday, August 24. Owner Mike Willman said a decision on a Pacific Classic start will be made Tuesday.
Nominations for the Pacific Classic close Thursday.
Ginger Pop, trained by Dan Hendricks, joined the field for the Grade I, $350,000 Del Mar Oaks Saturday, assuring a field of at least 10 for the 1 1/8-mile race on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course.
The 3-year-old daughter of El Prado, who skipped the Grade II San Clemente Handicap, will be ridden by Richard Migliore, who will come back from riding at Saratoga for the Oaks. "Richie thinks enough of the filly to come back and ride her," Hendricks said this morning.
Migliore, who moved his tack from his longtime base of New York to Southern California in early 2007, decided to head back to his roots after six days of the Del Mar season. While riding in Southern California in 2007, Migliore rode Student Council to victory in last year's Pacific Classic.
Expected in the field: Satan's Circus, runner-up in the Grade I American Oaks, trained by Christophe Clement; San Clemente winner Storm Mesa, trained by Bret Calhoun; the John Sadler-trained Tasha's Miracle, the San Clemente runner-up; Bel Air Sizzle and Lethal Heat from the Barry Abrams barn; Patrick Gallagher's Magical Fantasy; Ben Cecil's Missit; Misty Ocean, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, and Ocean Music, trained by John Shirreffs.
Missit worked this morning on the grass, going 5 furlongs in 1:01.20. Magical Fantasy posted 1:15.40 for 6 furlongs on the turf.
Also possible for the race are Doug O'Neill trainee Grace Anatomy and Million Dollar Run, trained by Marcelo Polanco.
ABRAMS TRIO AMONG SIX COMMITTED TO SOLANA BEACH 'CAP
Two daughters of the stallion Unusual Heat and one daughter of Bertrando will represent Barry Abrams connections in next Sunday's 15th running of the Solana Beach Handicap for California-bred fillies 3 years old and older.
The trio makes up half of the number committed to the race at this point.
John Sadler will send two into the fray -- Tutta Bella with Garrett Gomez up and Bachelorette One with Mike Smith -- and Gloria Buckridge will saddle Comedy Girl, with Victor Espinoza in the saddle.
Abrams has named Alex Solis aboard America's Friend, Joel Rosario on Lightmyfirebaby and Clinton Potts on Exquisite Beauty, the Bertrando daughter. Lightmyfirebaby worked 5 furlongs on the main track this morning in 1:00.80 and Exquisite Beauty posted a 5-furlong grass time of 1:04.60.
CAPTAIN STEEL SPIKES FEVER, WITHDRAWN FROM BEST PAL STAKES
With the late scratch of second choice Captain Steel, the undefeated Azul Leon, trained by Doug O'Neill and with Del Mar's leading rider, Rafael Bejarano, in the irons, rules as the morning-line favorite at 2-1 for today's Grade II, $150,000 Best Pal Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track.
Captain Steel, trained by Jeff Mullins, developed a high fever Saturday and the decision was made to scratch the 2-year-old son of Hennessy.
The earlier scratch of Fiery Rebel and the withdrawal of Captain Steel reduced the original field of 10 to eight.
Following Azul Leon on the morning line: S.S. Stone, 3-1; Coronet of a Baron and Kelly Leak, 7-2; Miguel's Mascot and Charlie's Moment, 12-1; Fu Peg He Rat, 20-1, and Turbo Call, 30-1.
FIRST DEL MAR WIN GIVES FRENCHMAN HOPE FOR MORE ACTION
A smiling Julien Couton, 27, voiced hope this morning that he would soon have more action at Del Mar following his initial victory Saturday at the seaside. His victory by a nose aboard Headache in the second race was soothing for both him and his trainer, Leonard Powell.
Couton, with a distinct French accent, has been galloping horses for Powell for about eight months. Prior to that he galloped horses for a couple of years for trainer Patrick Biancone.
Couton, who posted 17 victories as a jockey in France, scored his first North American victory, also with Headache on opening day of the Hollywood Park meeting. The horse paid $62.40 to win. In his first ride at Del Mar, he brought home Big Day Today fifth in a maiden special weights race July 24.
AT LEAST TWO FROM LA JOLLA HEADING ON TO DEL MAR DERBY
Winner Sky Cape and runner-up Tangled Tango will be pointed toward the Grade II, $350,000 Del Mar Derby Sunday, August 31, according to trainers Kristin Mulhall and Julio Canani.
Both horses were reported in good shape this morning, Sky Cape at home in his stall at Hollywood Park and Tangled Tango with Canani at Del Mar.
Relieved that Sky Cape finally was able to stay calm and collected in the paddock and relaxed during the race, trainer Mulhall didn't hesitate in committing her 3-year-old homebred to the Derby. The daughter of former trainer Richard Mulhall bred the colt and is co-owner, as Visionary Racing, with Steve Taub.
Canani said Tangled Tango, who was 1 1/4 lengths in front of third-place finisher Liberian Freighter, was in great shape this morning. "He's a nice horse and very sound," the trainer said.
Liberian Freighter, on the other hand, will not be contesting the Derby, trainer Neil Drysdale said.
TYLER BAZE, ROSARIO MAKE HAY WHILE BEJARANO'S AWAY
Jockeys Tyler Baze and Joel Rosario made no headway on Rafael Bejarano the previous day he was out of town, but they made sure that didn't happen again Saturday as both scored three victories while the meet leader rode at Arlington Park.
The riding triples for the pair ran their totals to 21, just three behind Bejarano's leading 24. Almost as important to Baze and Rosario was the fact the three wins put them six ahead of the streaking Garrett Gomez' 15, who also rode at Arlington.
Bejarano and Gomez each won one minor stakes at the track outside of Chicago, and Gomez finished third with Tizdejavu in the Grade I Secretariat Stakes.
Trainer John Sadler ended a mini-slump for him by saddling two winners Saturday, including one for the meet's leading owners, Gary and Cecil Barber. The victory gave the brothers 10 for the meet. Sadler's double ran his total for half the season to 17, a cushion of seven over runner-up Mike Mitchell's 10.
SHORE LINES -- Saturday's crowd of 39,679 was the second largest of the season, exceeded only by the opening day total of 43,459 ... Five more favorites won Saturday to continue a trend that began late last month after a period of numerous longshot winners. Favorites are now winning at a rate of 26.60 percent after a time when the strike rate was below 20 percent against the normal 30-33 percent for favorites winning ... Workouts of note today: 4 furlongs -- In Summation, a Pat O'Brien Handicap prospect, 47.60; Jungle Prince, also an O'Brien possibility, 49 flat; 5 furlongs -- Bullsbay, 1:00.20; 6 furlongs -- Party Mandate, bullet 1:11.40; 7 furlongs -- Let Us Prey, 1:25.60; Vauquelin, 1:27.20.
TRAKUS FACTS -- Sat., 8/9 -- Peak Speed: Race 8 (Polytrack) -- Palamoun -- 42.9 mph (first 3/16ths); Race 9 (Turf) -- Sky Cape -- 40.7 mph (first 15/16ths); Fastest Late Stretch Run: Race 1 (Polytrack) -- Cost of Freedom -- 38.3 mph (final 16th); Race 9 (Turf) -- Madeo -- 37.6 mph (final 16th).
DEL MAR COMBINED JOCKEY & TRAINER STATISTICS
(Current Through Saturday, August 9, 2008)
Jockey -- Mts -- 1st -- 2nd -- 3rd -- Win% -- Money Won
Rafael Bejarano -- 106 -- 24 -- 24 -- 20 -- 23% -- $1,338,380
Tyler Baze -- 113 -- 21 -- 14 -- 16 -- 19% -- $999,386
Joel Rosario -- 113 -- 21 -- 10 -- 18 -- 19% -- $808,748
Garrett Gomez -- 71 -- 15 -- 10 -- 9 -- 21% -- $1,055,095
Victor Espinoza -- 88 -- 10 -- 10 -- 11 -- 11% -- $588,730
Martin Garcia -- 74 -- 8 -- 11 -- 9 -- 11% -- $372,634
Joseph Talamo -- 68 -- 7 -- 9 -- 4 -- 10% -- $380,246
Alex Solis -- 64 -- 6 -- 15 -- 12 -- 9% -- $409,740
David Flores -- 67 -- 6 -- 9 -- 12 -- 9% -- $702,043
Michael Baze -- 51 -- 6 -- 9 -- 1 -- 12% -- $348,227
Trainer -- Sts -- 1st -- 2nd -- 3rd -- Win% -- Money Won
John W. Sadler -- 62 -- 17 -- 16 -- 3 -- 27% -- $1,154,597
Mike R. Mitchell -- 43 -- 10 -- 5 -- 8 -- 23% -- $650,970
Doug F. O'Neill -- 52 -- 9 -- 11 -- 6 -- 17% -- $406,827
Jerry Hollendorfer -- 34 -- 9 -- 2 -- 9 -- 26% -- $331,529
Jeff Mullins -- 44 -- 7 -- 12 -- 7 -- 16% -- $311,807
Peter Miller -- 24 -- 7 -- 3 -- 2 -- 29% -- $224,500
Clifford W. Sise, Jr. -- 17 -- 6 -- 3 -- 3 -- 35% -- $177,520
Patrick Gallagher -- 20 -- 5 -- 4 -- 2 -- 25% -- $221,720
Carla Gaines -- 15 -- 5 -- 2 -- 3 -- 33% -- $268,488
William Spawr -- 25 -- 5 -- 2 -- 1 -- 20% -- $165,976
Winning Favorites Report
(Current Through Saturday, August 9, 2008)
Winning favorites -- 50 out of 188 -- 26.60%
Winning odds-on favorites -- 13 out of 24 -- 54.17%
In-the-Money favorites -- 126 out of 188 -- 67.02%
In-the-Money odds-on favorites -- 22 out of 24 -- 91.67%