Country Grammer Meets Mandaloun in San Diego

The July 30 San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar may not have the country's most exciting horse—the infrequently raced but brilliant Flightline —but it has almost every other top older dirt horse in California, plus some newcomers to the state.

While dual grade 1-winning Flightline awaits a fresh start in the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar Sept. 3, a deep and talented cast looks to capitalize in his absence. Six of the $300,000 race's nine entrants are graded stakes winners.

Among them are Country Grammer , who makes his first start since winning the March 26 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1), Mandaloun , winner by disqualification in the 2021 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), and Tripoli , who captured the 2021 Pacific Classic.

Also in the 1 1/16-mile race are top-four finishers from the Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G1)—There Goes Harvard , Defunded , Royal Ship , and Stilleto Boy . Express Train , who took the Santa Anita Handicap Presented by Yaamava' Resort & Casino (G1) earlier this year before running second to Stilleto Boy in the Californian Stakes (G2), is being given a break. Express Train defeated Tripoli and Royal Ship in the 2021 San Diego Handicap.

Commonwealth Thoroughbreds, WinStar Farm, and Zedan Racing Stables' Country Grammer has two wins and one second in three starts since joining the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert in 2021. Besides the Dubai World Cup, he won the 2021 Hollywood Gold Cup.

Though he returns from a lengthy layoff after being given time to recuperate following his trip to the Middle East this winter and spring, he is a horse that can perform at a high level when fresh. He was second in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) after nine months without racing.

Baffert, as is his custom, has put Country Grammer through a series of quick drills leading up to the 5-year-old Tonalist   horse's return.

John Velazquez rides, replacing European jockey Frankie Dettori, who piloted Country Grammer to victory in Dubai.

Baffert also runs Defunded for owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman. Abel Cedillo is his rider.

Juddmonte's Mandaloun also raced in the Saudi Cup, though not to his potential, weakening to ninth after stalking the pace. Given a break, he was again off the board in chasing the leaders and tiring to fourth, beaten nine lengths in the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs July 2.

With a start behind him, the Into Mischief   4-year-old should be at peak fitness. Florent Geroux stays aboard for trainer Brad Cox.

Mandaloun and There Goes Harvard carry 121 pounds under the weights of the San Diego Handicap, receiving four pounds from Country Grammer. The other San Diego participants carry between 116-120 pounds.

Tripoli makes his second start off a layoff after running a close fourth in the American Stakes (G3T) on turf that served as a prep when an allowance optional claiming race for which he was intended on dirt did not fill.

A son of the late Kitten's Joy, Tripoli showed the versatility to excel in main-track races last spring and summer at Santa Anita Park and Del Mar.

Entries: San Diego H. (G2)

Del Mar, Saturday, July 30, 2022, Race 10

• Grade II
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $300,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 6:30 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	There Goes Harvard (KY)	Diego A. Herrera	121	Michael W. McCarthy	-
2	Defunded (KY)	Abel Cedillo	120	Bob Baffert	-
3	Mandaloun (KY)	Florent Geroux	121	Brad H. Cox	-
4	Stilleto Boy (KY)	Juan J. Hernandez	120	Ed Moger, Jr.	-
5	Senor Buscador (KY)	Edwin A. Maldonado	116	Todd W. Fincher	-
6	Parnelli (KY)	Victor Espinoza	117	John A. Shirreffs	-
7	Tripoli (KY)	Tiago Josue Pereira	120	John W. Sadler	-
8	Country Grammer (KY)	John R. Velazquez	125	Bob Baffert	-
9	Royal Ship (BRZ)	Mike E. Smith	120	Richard E. Mandella	-