The Great Day Seeks Breakthrough in Del Mar Handicap

The Great Day, runner-up in the Arlington Handicap (G3T) last out, will make a third attempt to break through in a stakes in the United States Aug. 17 in the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap Presented by The Japan Racing Association (G2T) at Del Mar.

The Great Day, who won twice at the top level in his native Argentina, will take on a field of eight other older horses going 1 3/8 miles on the turf for Lael Stables and trainer Arnaud Delacour.

The 5-year-old son of Harlan's Holiday won or placed in four group 1 races in Argentina, including the Estrellas Classic (G1) in July 2018—his last race in the country. He had a 4-5-1 record from 11 starts in South America, where he won races from six furlongs to 1 1/4 miles.

In his North American debut, he finished fifth in the June 16 Prince George's County Stakes at Laurel Park. He came back a month later in the Arlington Handicap, where he stalked from fifth and made a late move to get within 1 3/4 lengths of the winner.

At morning-line odds of 5-2, The Great Day will break from post 6 with John Velazquez aboard for the first time.

Little Red Feather Racing and Norman Tavares' Marckie's Water has shown improvement coming into the Del Mar Handicap. He won the May 25 Charles Whittingham Stakes (G2T) at 1 1/4 miles and was runner-up last out in the July 21 Eddie Read Stakes (G2T) at 1 1/8 miles.

Trained by Richard Baltas, the 5-year-old son of Tribal Rule has a record of 2-1-1 from five starts this year. His overall record is 6-1-2 from 19 starts.

Tiago Pereira will ride Marckie's Water from post 4.

Itsinthepost has not won since last year's Charles Whittingham Stakes, but the hard-knocking 7-year-old gelding finished second in the 1 1/2-mile Cougar II Handicap (G3) at Del Mar last month. 

Trained by Jeff Mullins and ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, Itsinthepost can't be counted out. In 2018, he strung together three wins, all in grade 2 turf stakes at Santa Anita Park. In fact, eight of his 10 wins have come at the Southern California track.

Another to watch for is this year's Charles Whittingham runner-up, United. The 4-year-old Giant's Causeway gelding came back July 17 to win an allowance optional claiming race over firm turf at Del Mar. Trained by Richard Mandella for LNJ Foxwoods, United has two wins and a second from five starts this year.

Entries: Del Mar H. Presented by The Japan Racing Association (G2T)

Del Mar, Saturday, August 17, 2019, Race 7

• Grade IIT
• 1 3/8m
• Turf
• $250,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 5:10 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Oscar Dominguez (IRE)	Joseph Talamo	118	Richard Baltas	12/1
2	2Ritzy A. P. (KY)	Martin Garcia	119	Dan Blacker	12/1
3	3Blended Citizen (KY)	Aaron T. Gryder	119	Doug F. O'Neill	20/1
4	4Marckie's Water (CA)	Tiago Josue Pereira	124	Richard Baltas	7/2
5	5United (KY)	Flavien Prat	120	Richard E. Mandella	3/1
6	6The Great Day (ARG)	John R. Velazquez	121	Arnaud Delacour	5/2
7	7Itsinthepost (FR)	Drayden Van Dyke	122	Jeff Mullins	7/2
8	8Arizona Moon (KY)	Evin A. Roman	115	Stacy Campo	30/1
9	9Acclimate (CA)	Florent Geroux	119	Philip D'Amato	12/1