The Running Horse (http://www.isd1.com)TWO-HORSE ENTRY TOPS FIELD OF 10 CAL-BRED FILLIES IN CTBA STAKES
Ten 2-year-old fillies bred in California are expected to go to the post Friday in 43rd running of the California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Stakes at Del Mar. Included in the field is a two-horse entry. Robert Wiest's Excellent Half was a program scratch this morning.
If all 10 start, the gross purse for the 6-furlong dash is $106,850. The winner's share of the purse is $66,850. Subtract $600 for any additional scratches.
LIT DE JUSTICE-BAGINONE CLASH HIGHLIGHTS SUNDAY'S BING CROSBY
The classic battle between an all-out front-runner and a thrilling come-from- the-clouds closer is shaping up for Sunday's 51st running of the Grade III, $200,000- added Bing Crosby Breeders' Cup Handicap at Del Mar.
Evergreen Farm's Lit de Justice, named the top sprinter of the 1995 Del Mar meeting on the strength of his super-impressive victory in the 7-furlong, Grade III Pat O'Brien Handicap, heads a field of six solid sprinters for the 6-furlong Crosby.
But nobody is conceding the race to him, especially not Abaginone, who generally flies out of the gate right to the lead and challenges others to catch him. Contrary to that style is that of Lit de Justice, which usually has him the last out of the gate, taking a quarter-mile to get settled and then exploding in a breath-taking finishing kick.
Entered also is Gold Land, who swept to victory in the Crosby last year. Gold Land will be making his first start since June 1 and is winless in two outings this year. Adding strength to the field is G Malleah, who was third in last year's renewal.
Here's the way the field will line up from the rail: G Malleah, 117, Joey Castro; Gold Land, 115, Eddie Delahoussaye; Ke Express, 111, Kent Desormeaux; Abaginone, 120, Corey Black; Concept Win, 116, Patrick Valenzuela; and Lit de Justice, 121, Corey Nakatani.
JERRY DUTTON HAS STARS IN HIS EYES OVER CLASSY FILLY STARRY ICE
Starry Ice brings a spotless record into Del Mar, and trainer Jerry Dutton is pointing her toward the seaside course's premier race for 2-year-old fillies, the Grade II, $250,000-guaranteed Del Mar Debutante, to be run at 7 furlongs on August 25.
With a record of four wins in four outings, including an impressive 5 1/2- length score in Hollywood Park's showcase Grade II, $100,000-added Landaluce Stakes at 6 furlongs on July 6, she's getting a bit of a breather right now, Dutton says. "She's been running real hard," he said, "but she's still training great."
After a maiden victory at Santa Anita March 27, the Dutton-bred filly won Hollywood Park's Nursery Stakes by 6 1/2 lengths and Hollywood's Cinderella by four lengths prior to the Landaluce effort. Considering her pull-away victories each time, Dutton doesn't expect her to have any problem with the added distance.
Dutton also has a sharp-looking Cal-bred 2-year-old colt named Renteria, who is expected to run in Wednesday's $100,000-added Graduation Stakes for Cal-breds. In his last outing, Renteria finished second to Swiss Yodeler, who won the Hollywood Futurity last Sunday.
FORMER RIDER DON PIERCE RECALLS SOME OF HIS GLORY DAYS
Longtime successful rider and now jockey agent Don Pierce, who ranks fifth on Del Mar's all-time stakes-winning jockey list, paused Friday morning between stops on his quest for rides for David Flores to reflect on his 30-year riding career that netted him 3,545 winners.
Del Mar was one of his most productive race meets, according to the record book. He won 53 stakes at the seaside track between 1958 and 1981, and three times had seven stakes wins in a meeting - in 1966, 1973 and 1978.
In each of those years, he had one horse that gave him three of the victories. In 1966, it was Old Mose, who won the San Diego Handicap, the Cabrillo Stakes and the Del Mar Handicap. In 1973, the 2-year-old filly Fleet Peach won the Junior Miss and Sorrento stakes and the Del Mar Debutante. In 1978, his triple winner was Flying Paster, a 2-year-old colt who captured the De Anza and Balboa stakes and the Del Mar Futurity.
Thinking back on the best horses he rode, Pierce named Quack and Hill Rise at the top of the list. Quack, he recalled, was never a completely sound horse, but he ran hard and had a competitive heart. He won six stakes aboard Hill Rise, he said, but Bill Shoemaker got the call on the colt for the 1964 Kentucky Derby. Hill Rise was beaten a neck by Northern Dancer.
Pierce had five Kentucky Derby rides. His highest finish was fourth with Ron McAnally trainee Super Moment in 1980. He was fifth with Flying Paster in 1979. The 59-year-old Pierce hung up his tack in 1985 to begin a training career that ended a year ago.
SHORE LINES: It took only two days to surpass last year's top $2 win payoff. Criso Como scampered home the winner in Thursday's fourth race to post a winning mutuel of $143.00. That's $1 more than the top payoff posted by Princess Afleet on last August 12 .... Long-time trainer Gary Jones, jockey Gary Stevens and track steward George Slender will be the guests at "Donuts at Del Mar" Saturday morning from 8 to 10 at the track's Seaside Terrace near the head of the stretch. Track announcer Trevor Denman will be master of ceremonies during question- and-answer periods. There will be free donuts, orange juice and coffee for those fans on hand .... Speaking of Gary Jones, the retired trainer was a visitor to the barn of his son, Martin, Friday morning. The elder Jones now lives in Del Mar, and it's expected that he'll show up occasionally to see how Jones the younger is doing .... A couple of Richard Mandella-trained prospects for Del Mar's $1,000,000 Pacific Classic August 10 have workouts scheduled. Soul of the Matter, who finished a strong second to Cigar in the $ 4 million Dubai Cup, is scheduled to work 1 1/8 miles between the fourth and fifth races Friday at Del Mar, and Hollywood Gold Cup victor Siphon figures to work Saturday or Sunday, Mandella said.
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