THERE are four Grade 1s up for decision in the US this weekend with the highlight the Pacific Classic at Del Mar.
Maximum Security returns to the scene of his Grade 2 San Diego Handicap success, where he only had a head to spare over today’s rival Midcourt, with over six lengths back to Higher Power.
That run was considered a bit disappointing even if it was his first since he travelled to win the Saudi Cup in February and he had then been switched to the Bob Baffert barn.
The four-year-old New Year’s Day colt owned by Gary and Mary West and Coolmore, drew stall five in the field of six and is the even-money morning-line favourite. Jockey Abel Cedillo, who guided Maximum Security in the San Diego Handicap, will be back aboard.
Midcourt led all the way in the San Diego before being pipped by Maximum Security and he drew the rail with Victor Espinoza on board.
Winner of the Pacific Classic a year ago, Higher Power has not won in five starts since, though he was placed four times in top company.
Completing the field are Mirinaque, a multiple Argentine Grade 1 winner making his North American debut; the Peter Eurton-trained graded-placed Dark Vader and Sharp Samurai, a multiple graded stakes winner on turf. On all form Maximum Security should be a class above these.
In the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on turf, the Peter Miller-trained Laura’s Light, a four-time stakes-winning daughter of Constitution, heads the market ahead of two French-campaigned fillies making their US debuts.
Richard Mandella now trains Miss Extra, who captured the Grade 2 Prix de Sandringham at Chantilly in June, while trainer Leonard Powell runs Neige Blanche, winner of the Group 3 Prix Cleopatre at Lyon-Parilly. Laura’s Light beat fellow runner Guitty last time in the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes.
Earlier on the card, the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap over a mile and three furlongs on turf has United as the top-weight, as last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf runner-up goes for four in a row after wins in the Charlie Whittington and Eddie Read Stakes.
Saratoga
In Saratoga, the Grade 1 Fourstarsdave Handicap is the feature tonight with a good field of turf milers headed by the mare Got Stormy, Chad Brown’s duo, the Dark Angel colt Raging Bull and the filly Uni, while Without Parole, the 2018 St James’s Palace winner, seeks a change of fortune after many unlucky runs in the US.
Raging Bull, second here last year to Got Stormy (who has had a disappointing season) with Uni third, was a shade disappointing in the Grade 1 Marker’s Mile last time out, though he had Without Parole and Emmaus behind him, can make amends.
The Sunday feature is the Grade 1 Diana Stakes for fillies on turf and the second outing of the season for star turf mare, Sistercharlie who takes on five rivals.
She couldn’t get on terms with Starship Jubilee on her seasonal comeback over a bit shorter, only third as Call Me Love took second in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa, but the six-year-old should be primed for a bigger effort.
Chad Brown also runs his other good turf mare Rushing Fall who won her second Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland in July and offers a big threat. Graham Motion’s Mean Mary is the newcomer, seeking her first Grade 1 win but on a roll of four wins in a row.