Itsinthepost Tries Del Mar's Dirt in Cougar II

Red Baron's Barn's Itsinthepost will transfer from the lawn to Del Mar's main track July 24 when he faces six others in the $100,000 Cougar II Handicap (G3).

The 1 1/2-mile marathon marks the second start of the season for Itsinthepost, a 7-year-old American Post gelding trained by Jeff Mullins. Itsinthepost last visited the winner's circle in May 2018 when he took the Charles Whittingham Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park. He ran twice more last summer, finishing off the board both times.

Itsinthepost returned June 15 in the Wise Dan Stakes (G2T) at Churchill Downs, finishing early and coming home 13th.

"He's run on (dirt) before. Right after I got him, a race came off the turf and he ran second," Mullins said, referencing the San Gabriel Stakes (G3) in January 2017. "He trains on it all the time and he's never run that well on the turf here, so we thought we'd try him."

The seven-time grade 2 winner is 3-for-5 at the Cougar II distance and will carry the second highest weight of 121 pounds. Jockey Drayden Van Dyke will be aboard as he breaks from stall 2.

The highweight is Woodford Racing's Campaign, tabbed the 6-5 morning-line favorite with 123 pounds. The 4-year-old Curlin  colt has made four starts with trainer John Sadler since transferring from the East Coast.

Campaign broke through April 14 when he rallied for a 3 1/4 length victory in the Tokyo City Cup (G3) at Santa Anita, then took a visit back East to finish fourth, beaten only three-quarters of a length in the June 8 Woodford Reserve Brooklyn Invitational (G2) at Belmont Park. He has won twice from four 1 1/2-mile starts.

Rafael Bejarano has the mount from post 7.

RRR Racing's For the Top is entered for his second stateside race after moving to trainer Bob Baffert's barn from his native Argentina. The 4-year-old Equal Stripes colt won the Nacional (G1) going 1 9/16 miles on dirt last November and finished third beaten a half-length in the 1 1/2-mile Carlos Pelligrini-Internacional (G1) on turf a month later.

For the Top ran fourth in a one-mile allowance optional claiming race at June 15 at Santa Anita.

Looking to make it in stakes company are Morse Code, Zestful, and Premium Forest.

Abbondanza Racing and trainer Richard Baltas's Morse Code is a half brother to multiple grade 1 winner and freshman stallion Honor Code . The 6-year-old son of Tapit  was fifth in the 1 1/4-mile Charles Whittingham May 25 in his stakes debut.

The Cougar II will be the first stakes attempt for Steven Sobel's Zestful, a $40,000 claim by trainer Mark Glatt July 4 at Pleasanton. The 4-year-old Ghostzapper  gelding has proven consistent in claiming and starter allowance races in Northern California and has won his last four starts, including a 1 1/2-mile starter allowance on Golden Gate Fields' turf course May 12.

Also coming from Pleasanton is Premium Forest, trained by Ari Herbertson for Steve Goldberg. The 4-year-old colt by Forest Command enters off 1 1/16-mile allowance victory June 30.

Entries: Cougar II H. (G3)

Del Mar, Wednesday, July 24, 2019, Race 6

• Grade III
• 1 1/2m
• Dirt
• $100,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 4:37 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
98	1Premium Forest (CA)	SCRATCHED	0	UNKNOWN	-
1	2Itsinthepost (FR)	Drayden Van Dyke	121	Jeff Mullins	7/2
2	3Zestful (KY)	Abel Cedillo	115	Mark Glatt	10/1
3	4For the Top (ARG)	Joseph Talamo	119	Bob Baffert	3/1
4	5Original Intent (KY)	Assael Espinoza	115	Dean Greenman	20/1
5	6Morse Code (KY)	Edwin A. Maldonado	116	Richard Baltas	4/1
6	7Campaign (KY)	Rafael Bejarano	123	John W. Sadler	6/5