Del Mar Saturday

Del Mar headlines the US action this weekend with two Grade 1s, including one of the west coast highlights, the 10-furlong Pacific Classic, which has been won in the past by famous names such as California Chrome, Beholder, Shared Belief and Game On Dude. Subsequent Breeders’ Cup winner and Horse of the Year Accelerate was last year’s winner. There are no such stars in tonight’s line-up.

Dallas Stewart’s Seeking The Soul heads a close betting market and comes off a win in the Grade 2 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs where he got going in the stretch to beat today’s rival Quip by a neck. Now six, he won his only Grade 1 back in 2017 (Clark Handicap) but has consistent form in Grade 1 company, and the extra furlong should suit.

Pavel won last year’s Stephen Foster when it was a Grade 1 but has struggled for a win in four outings this year. John Sadler’s Campaign, a son of Curlin, won a Grade 3 here in July. Both he and War Story are around 8/1 on the morning line and also have claims.

Oaks field

Grade 1 fillies’ races abound in the US and the Del Mar Oaks has attracted 14 three-year-old fillies, each looking for their first victory at the top level.

If it’s a Grade 1 turf race, call for Chad. Brown sends a stakes-winning duo in Cambier Parc and Dogtag for the nine-furlong contest, with Cambier Parc earning a Grade 1 placing when she was third in the July 6th Belmont Oaks Stakes last time out. Mucho Unusual is a strong local contender, having recorded three consecutive victories after switching to turf.

Lady Prancealot began her career in England and she rallied from sixth to win the June 1st Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes at Santa Anita.

Hidden Message, winner of the Listed Coral Distaff at Sandown in July, has joined Simon Callaghan and carries the Qatar colours.

Saratoga Saturday

After a fabulous weekend last week where he took the three turf Grade 1s at Arlington, Chad Brown sends out another short-priced favourite in Dunbar Road for the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes (10.59pm) for three-year-old fillies over 10 furlongs.

Owned by Peter Brandt, like Sistercharlie, she went down to today’s rival Champagne Anyone in the Gulfstream Oaks last March but added to her subsequent allowance race win when taking the Grade 2 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont by over two lengths.

Curlin’s daughter Point Of Honor looks to be her main rival. She was fourth in the Oaks at Gulfstream but stepped up since to win the Black Eyed Susan at Pimlico and finish second to Brown’s unbeaten Guaruna in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks.