A dozen older horses remain solidly committed to competing in the 18th running of Del Mar's signature race, the Grade I, $1-million Pacific Classic, on Sunday, August 24 at 1 1/4 miles on the main track.
The Pacific Classic has been designated a "Win and You're In" event by the Breeders' Cup with the winner getting an automatic spot in the $5-million Breeders' Cup Classic Saturday, October 25 at Oak Tree at Santa Anita, site of the two days of Breeders' Cup championship races.
Here's how the 12 committed runners shape up:
Horse -- Trainer -- Jockey
Awesome Gem -- Craig Dollase -- Tyler Baze
Barcola -- Mark Hennig -- Corey Nakatani
Delosvientos -- Giuseppe Iadisernia -- Eibar Coa
Go Between -- William I. Mott -- Garrett Gomez
Mast Track -- Robert Frankel -- Mike Smith
McCann's Mojave -- Steven Specht -- Julio Garcia
Mostacolli Mort -- Julio Canani -- Victor Espinoza
Out of Control -- Robert Frankel -- Rafael Bejarano
Student Council -- Steven Asmussen -- Shaun Bridgmohan
Surf Cat -- Bruce Headley -- David Flores
Well Armed -- Eoin Harty -- Aaron Gryder
Zappa -- John Sadler -- No rider named
The 3-year-olds nominated are Colonel John, Tres Borrachos and Dixie Chatter, with the first two being pointed for the Travers Stakes August 23 at Saratoga and the last named training toward the Del Mar Derby.
The other older horses nominated and not likely to run are Champs Elysees, in Saturday's Sword Dancer Handicap at Saratoga; Curlin, who is heading to Saratoga's Woodward Handicap August 30; Dominican, Informed, Lewis Michael, Perfect Drift, Stream Cat and Tissy Fit.
3 OTHER STAKES MAKE PACIFIC CLASSIC DAY ONE OF CHAMPIONS
Offering amazing support for the Pacific Classic in what is being billed as Champions' Day will be three other stakes races that fall into the "Win and You're In" category by the Breeders' Cup.
The races: Del Mar Mile, Rancho Bernardo Handicap and Pat O'Brien Handicap. Nominations closed Thursday and each race drew numerous prospects.
Nineteen nominated for the Grade II, $400,000 Del Mar Mile on the grass, with multiple graded stakes winner Daytona, Eddie Read victor Monzante, Wickerr winner One Union and Eddie Read runner-up Whatsthescript leading the way. The winner will get an automatic spot in the gate for the $2-million Breeders' Cup Mile October 25.
The Grade II, Pat O'Brien Handicap, which drew 24 nominees, will be run at 7 furlongs on the main track and is headlined by 2007 champion sprinter Midnight Lute, 2006 champion sprinter Thor's Echo, 2007 Bing Crosby Handicap winner and 2008 Crosby runner-up In Summation and Southern California speedsters Johnny Eves and Barbecue Eddie.
The winner gets in the $2-million Breeders' Cup Sprint.
Rounding out the day's action will be the 37th running of the Grade III, $200,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track that will send the winner into the $1-million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on Friday, October 24.
Heading the 19 nominations are graded stakes winner Dearest Trickski, Coco Belle and Highland Torree, division winners of Del Mar's CERF Handicap; A Gleam runner-up Magnificience, multiple stakes winner Tiz Elemental, 2007 Del Mar Debutante winner Set Play, and California-bred 2-year-old filly of the year Spring Awakening.
Opening the weekend's stakes blitz will be the 69th running of the Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course on Saturday, August 23.
Leading the potential field is Warning Zone, winner of Hollywood Park's Sunset Handicap; Worldly, fourth in a blanket finish in Del Mar's Wickerr Handicap; Runaway Dancer, beginning his 9-year-old season, and Cedar Mountain, runner-up in the Sunset.
OCEANE MUSIC PLAYS A MYSTERY TUNE IN DEL MAR OAKS
The mystery horse coming into Saturday's Grade I, $350,000 Del Mar Oaks is Oceane Music, a newcomer to the barn of trainer John Shirreffs for two-time Oaks winner Marsha Naify.
The undefeated French-bred filly came to Shirreffs about a week and a half ago, and worked an easy half-mile in 53.80 over the Jimmy Durante Turf, site of the Oaks. "She's a very nice filly, with a beautiful disposition," Shirreffs said. "She is forwardly placed in her races."
She won three times in France, one time defeating males. In her most recent start, she stepped into stakes company and won the Prix Amandine at Deauville. Oceane Music is listed at 15-1 odds on the morning line.
Naify won the 2002 Oaks as a partner in Dublino, while running under Liberty Road Stables, and again in 2004 with Amorama, while a partner with her sister's Woodside Farms.
The quality-laden Oaks field of 10 includes Satan's Circus, the Christophe Clement-trained runner-up in the Grade I American Oaks at Hollywood Park who is 5-2 on the morning line; San Clemente winner Storm Mesa, the morning-line favorite at 9-5; Grade II Honeymoon Handicap winner Misty Ocean, 6-1; Grade III Railbird Stakes winner Million Dollar Run, 20-1, and double Del Mar sprint winner Lethal Heat, 10-1.
Also in the field: Ginger Pop, 12-1; Magical Fantasy, 20-1, Bel Air Sizzle, 12-1 and Missit, 10-1.
SILVER Z RETURNS TO CAL-BRED COMPANY FOR SOLANA BEACH
After hanging with graded stakes horses in her last two races, Silver Z's trainer, Brian Koriner, believes she has a bit of a class edge on her California-bred foes in Sunday's $100,000 Solana Beach Handicap at a mile on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course.
But the trainer is quick to point out that the 15-day turnaround from the Grade II Clement L. Hirsch Handicap August 2 on the main track could be a problem for the 6-year-old daughter of Cee's Tizzy. "I think she has a little class edge, but we'll see what those earlier races took out of her and how the 15-day turnaround affects her," Koriner said. "If we had been pointing just for this race, I don't think she'd have any trouble."
Prior to the Hirsch, in which she finished seventh to the undefeated Zenyatta, Silver Z was fourth in the Grade I Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park behind Zenyatta, Tough Tiz's Sis and Silver Swallow.
Silver Z's front-running style is not a problem for the trainer, who said, "We're not going to change anything, especially not at a mile. That's the way she runs."
Trainer Barry Abrams will test Silver Z with a possible four-horse push -- Exquisite Beauty, America's Friend, Lightmyfirebaby and Lethal Heat, who may go instead in Saturday's Del Mar Oaks, a race in which she also is entered.
John Sadler will fire two shots -- Tutta Bella and Bachelorette One -- and rounding out the field of 10 are Comedy Girl, Swiss Current and Christiana's Heat.
The Solana Beach is the seventh race on a nine-race card.
ROSARIO TIGHTENS UP JOCKEY RACE WITH TWO VICTORIES
Joel Rosario, close to the lead throughout the season, got closer Thursday with a pair of wins, while leading rider Rafael Bejarano went winless.
The victory gave Rosario 25 for the meet so far, two behind Bejarano and two ahead of third-place Tyler Baze. One of Rosario's wins came aboard the John Sadler-trained Truthy, a mount he picked up after Garrett Gomez was excused from his one mount.
Martin Pedroza's victory in Thursday's second race ran his career total to 2,990 and put him on the watch list kept by Equibase.
Sadler's win increased his total to 20 so far. Jeff Mullins edged into second place when his Concettina won the fourth race, giving him 11 wins and separating him from Doug O'Neill and Mike Mitchell, next with 10.
SHORE LINES -- Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally hopes to be far enough along on his recuperation from a horse kick to his left hip to show up at his barn for a while Saturday morning. The trainer was kicked as he headed for his barn about 5:30 a.m. Sunday and has been at his Rancho Santa Fe home recovering since then ... With the earlier onset of dusk now, post time for the first race for the final three Four O'Clock Fridays will be 3:30.
MAIN TRACK MAINTENANCE:
On Tuesday, the Polytrack surface was power-harrowed and rototilled to a depth of six (6") inches. The track was returned to training and racing depth of approximately two inches and consistency through Gallop Mastering and watering.
Thursday, there were three loads of water (by water truck) added to the racetrack between training and racing time. Additionally, there will be one load of water applied to the running lanes after the day's second race.
Barring notable weather changes, a similar watering pattern will be followed each racing day, with the exception of Fridays and its later start.
On Fridays, following training hours, the track will be power-harrowed to a depth of four (4") inches, then returned to training and racing depth and consistency through Gallop Mastering and watering. No additional water will be added to the track during the racing card Fridays.
TRAKUS FACTS -- Thurs., 8/14 -- Peak Speed: Race 1 (Polytrack) -- Dolly Daggers -- 42.6 mph (first 3/16ths); Race 3 (Turf) -- Wendythethief -- 42.5 mph (first 3/16ths); Fastest Late Stretch Run: Race 1 (Polytrack) -- Cool Haleigh -- 37.1 mph (final 16th); Race 3 (Turf) -- Shes a Real Keeper -- 37.1 mph (final 16th).
DEL MAR COMBINED JOCKEY & TRAINER STATISTICS
(Current Through Thursday, August 14, 2008)
Jockey -- Mts -- 1st -- 2nd -- 3rd -- Win% -- Money Won
Rafael Bejarano -- 125 -- 27 -- 30 -- 25 -- 22% -- $1,539,920
Joel Rosario -- 138 -- 25 -- 12 -- 24 -- 18% -- $934,808
Tyler Baze -- 135 -- 23 -- 16 -- 19 -- 17% -- $1,089,423
Garrett Gomez -- 82 -- 18 -- 11 -- 12 -- 22% -- $1,159,415
Victor Espinoza -- 98 -- 11 -- 12 -- 11 -- 11% -- $653,430
Martin Garcia -- 82 -- 9 -- 12 -- 10 -- 11% -- $430,147
Alex Solis -- 73 -- 8 -- 17 -- 13 -- 11% -- $482,200
Joseph Talamo -- 80 -- 8 -- 11 -- 4 -- 10% -- $436,626
David Flores -- 76 -- 7 -- 11 -- 12 -- 9% -- $783,005
Michael Baze -- 66 -- 7 -- 10 -- 3 -- 11% -- $406,287
Trainer -- Sts -- 1st -- 2nd -- 3rd -- Win% -- Money Won
John W. Sadler -- 70 -- 20 -- 17 -- 4 -- 29% -- $1,265,941
Jeff Mullins -- 53 -- 11 -- 13 -- 7 -- 21% -- $389,947
Doug F. O'Neill -- 62 -- 10 -- 13 -- 9 -- 16% -- $532,967
Mike R. Mitchell -- 46 -- 10 -- 5 -- 10 -- 22% -- $663,730
Jerry Hollendorfer -- 35 -- 9 -- 3 -- 9 -- 26% -- $346,529
Peter Miller -- 28 -- 7 -- 5 -- 2 -- 25% -- $234,300
Clifford W. Sise, Jr. -- 22 -- 6 -- 4 -- 3 -- 27% -- $203,508
Patrick Gallagher -- 23 -- 5 -- 4 -- 4 -- 22% -- $236,760
William Spawr -- 29 -- 5 -- 3 -- 2 -- 17% -- $180,336
J. Eric Kruljac -- 13 -- 5 -- 3 -- 1 -- 38% -- $194,420
Winning Favorites Report
(Current Through Thursday, August 14, 2008)
Winning favorites -- 64 out of 221 -- 28.96%
Winning favorites main track -- 48 out of 170 -- 28.24%
Winning favorites on turf -- 16 out of 51 -- 31.37%
Winning odds-on favorites -- 15 out of 28 -- 53.57%
In-the-Money favorites -- 154 out of 221 -- 69.68%
In-the-Money odds-on favorites -- 25 out of 28 -- 89.29%