Del Mar's Opening Week Brings Full Fields, Turf Racing
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Faversham breaks his maiden June 21 at Santa Anita Park
As the racing circuit in Southern California moves to its southernmost point, overflow fields and quality turf racing will greet fans and gamblers during the first two days of Del Mar's summer meet.
The 10-race opening-day card July 18 features an average field size of 10.4 and four grass races, highlighted by the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes, which drew 14 3-year-olds—including Faversham, a full brother to two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome —and two also-eligibles.
Faversham broke his maiden impressively last time out on the Santa Anita Park turf course June 21, when he closed from eighth to win the one-mile maiden special weight by 3 1/4 lengths. It was the Lucky Pulpit ridgling's sixth start but only the second on grass.
CROSBY: California Chrome's Brother Faversham Breaks Maiden
The turf racing is particularly enticing after three weeks at the turf-less Los Alamitos Race Course, and the eight-race July 19 card features three grass races and also has an average field size of 9.9.
The feature Thursday, however, will be on the main track, as a pair of graded winners from the barn of trainer Simon Callaghan will face off in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance race.
Moonshine Memories, who won the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1) and Chandelier Stakes (G1) in 2017, but is winless in two starts this year, is targeting the Prioress Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course Sept. 2. Treasuring, who won the Senorita Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita May 5, doesn't have a defined target just yet.
BALAN: Treasuring Speeds to Victory in Senorita
"We have always wanted to try dirt at some point (with Treasuring), so (we'll) see if it opens up some more doors," Callaghan said of the Havana Gold filly, whose four wins have all come on grass.
Also in the Thursday allowance is California-bred stakes winner Show It N Moe It; stakes winner Steph Being Steph, who has placed in back-to-back grade 2 races at Santa Anita; and stakes-placed Secret Spice.
Opening-week stakes racing resumes July 20 in the $75,000 Osunitas Stakes, which is followed by the $200,000 San Diego Handicap (G2) and $200,000 San Clemente Stakes (G2T) July 21, and the $250,000 Eddie Read Stakes (G2T) and $75,000 Wickerr Stakes on the turf July 22.