Seven evenly
matched turf runners will go to the post Saturday in the 24th version of the
Grade II, $250,000 Del Mar Mile on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course.
Blue
Chagall,
Bruce's Dream, Golden Mexico and Moudez are entering the race off a
victory,
but the field is very competitive, with two others -- Scenic Blast and
Enriched -- having impressive efforts at Del Mar, and another, Meteore,
trying to regain
his 3-year-old form that was good enough to produce a win in Del Mar's
Grade II
La Jolla Handicap last year.
Blue Chagall,
owned by Prestonwood Racing and trained by Julio Canani, captured the Wickerr
Handicap July 28, and Bruce's Dream, trained by Mike Puype for Corwin Racing,
won the California Dreamin' Handicap July 25. Canani finally got the trip he
wanted for Blue Chagall in the Wickerr and he was quick to point to this race
for his 5-year-old gelding's next race.
Enriched posted third-place
finishes in the Grade I Eddie Read Stakes and Grade II San Diego Handicap on
successive weekends, and Scenic Blast was a sharp second in the Grade I Bing
Crosby Stakes at 6 furlongs on the main track August 1. He goes back to his
favorite surface in the Mile.
Golden Mexico,
trained by John Sadler, won an optional claiming race at Del Mar July 31, and
Moudez, trained by Steven Miyadi, was a winner of the J.T. Grace Handicap at
Santa Rosa in his first start since 2007 for owner Zayat Stables.
Here's the
lineup from the rail, with weights and riders: Blue Chagall, 118, David Flores;
Golden Mexico, 114, Victor Espinoza; Moudez, 114, Patrick Valenzuela; Meteore,
115, Rafael Bejarano; Scenic Blast, 121, Mike Smith; Enriched, 119, Joel
Rosario, and Bruce's Dream, 117, Garrett Gomez.