The Running Horse (http://www.isd1.com)TWO DIVISIONS OF OCEANSIDE STAKES KICK OFF DEL MAR'S 57TH MEET
Fourteen 3-year-olds -- eight in one division and six in the other -- will vie in the 50th running of the Oceanside Stakes as Del Mar opens its 57th racing season. Each division will carry a $75,000-added purse. Originally, each had nine entered, but one scratched out of the first division and three scratched in the second.
If all eight run in the first division, to be run as the fifth race on the nine-race opening-day card, the purse will total $81,125, with $51,125 going to the winner. If all six start in the second division, to be run as the eighth race, the purse
TRAINER RON ELLIS SAVORS DEL MAR AS A VERY SPECIAL SPOT IN HIS LIFE
Ron Ellis has carved out quite a niche for himself in the past few years as one of Thoroughbred racing's brightest young stars, but his beginnings are always close in his mind, especially when he comes to Del Mar to train.
"I won my very first race here 16 years ago," Ellis says. "It was at the fair meet they had one fall after this meet. It was the Carlsbad Stakes, and my winner was To B. Or Not." He acknowledged it wasn't hard to remember the winner's name -- it was the only horse the then-20-year-old Ellis trained.
To B. Or Not had done well at the regular Del Mar meet, finishing third in an allowance race and third to Galaxy Libra in the second division of the Chula Vista Handicap.
"He always had soundness problems," Ellis said of To B. Or Not. The horse had been trained by Larry Sterling earlier, and had been off for a year. "When he came back, Larry didn't want to train him, so he suggested me," Ellis said. Owners Carol and William Bohm agreed and Ellis was in business as a trainer. Ellis, who worked for Sterling up until that time, had groomed To B. Or Not when he was a 3- year-old stakes winner.
The 36-year-old Ellis, who was born and reared in the San Fernando Valley, counts Twice the Vice, Exotic Wood, Pharma and Denim Yenim among his stable stars. His plans for the meeting call for Twice the Vice to run in the Grade II Chula Vista Handicap September 1, with a possible start in the Grade I Ramona Handicap August 3; Pharma to run in the Grade II Palomar Handicap September 7; Denim Yenim in the Grade III Rancho Bernardo Handicap August 10; and Exotic Wood possibly in the Chula Vista.
POPULAR LARRY THE LEGEND MAY SOON BE READY TO RUN AT DEL MAR
Though careful to be as noncommittal as possible, trainer Craig Lewis said Wednesday morning that "it could happen" when questioned about whether or not Larry the Legend might be running during the Del Mar meet. The popular winner of the 1995 Santa Anita Derby has been plagued by two knee fractures but breezed 6 furlongs in 1:14 2/5 Monday at Del Mar.
The cautious Lewis said "Larry" is getting close to being ready to run competitively, adding, "We're pleased with his progress and we'll just take it a day at a time. We don't want to be disappointed and we don't want to disappoint anybody."
SATURDAY GETS OFF TO A SWEET START WITH "DONUTS AT DEL MAR"
The first of two "Donuts at Del Mar" parties will be held Saturday, July 27, and will feature jockey Gary Stevens, retired but still popular trainer Gary Jones and Del Mar steward George Slender.
The special family-oriented program that is in its eighth season at the track offers free orange juice, coffee and donuts to all racing fans at the track's Seaside Terrace against a backdrop of Thoroughbred horses going through their morning workouts. Highlighting the session that runs from 8 to 10 a.m. will be question-and- answer periods with the three guests conducted by Del Mar track announcer Trevor Denman.
Del Mar works with Radio Station Q-106, Fox Channel 6's Kids' Club and Yum Yum Donuts on the promotion, which also features giveaways and prizes fashioned for children and families. The Seaside Terrace can best be reached by entering the track's Solana Gate off of Via De La Valle.
SHORE LINES: Track Gal, the popular filly sprinter trained by John Sadler, is set to run in the Grade III, $100,000-added Rancho Bernardo Handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs on August 10, Pacific Classic Day. Sadler said she got some time off following last year's Breeders' Cup Sprint and has chalked up three wins in four outs this year .... Alex Maese and Bill Harmatz were rehashing last year's Rocking Chair Derby Wednesday morning at trainer Bill Shoemaker's barn, and they both said they are looking forward to another try this year .... A field of 11 2-year-old fillies, headed by the Halo Farms, Stolich and Stolich entry of Fairness and One More Angel, is expected to go postward Friday in the California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Stakes. The purse is $107,450, with the winner's share being $67,450 .... Recent sharp workouts: Pismo Bay, :47 4/5; Royal Concord, :47 2/5; Never Mining, 47 4/5, all for 4 furlongs; Argonnier and Cezind, both in :59 2/5, and G Malleah, :58 3/5, all for five furlongs.
The Running Horse (http://www.isd1.com)