NEW TRAVEL PLANS WILL PUT CIGAR AT DEL MAR THURSDAY MORNING
Travel plans for his historic appearance in Del Mar's $1,000,000 Pacific Classic Saturday, August 10 have been altered a bit for 1995 Horse of the Year Cigar, bringing him to Southern California earlier Thursday than originally planned. And that means he'll arrive at Del Mar racetrack much earlier than anticipated.
Flight plans now call for the 6-year-old son of Palace Music, who will be trying in the Pacific Classic to set a modern-day record of 17 consecutive victories, to arrive at Ontario, CA., airport at approximately 9 a.m. Thursday. He'll then be vanned to Del Mar, with arrival expected to be at about noon.
Trainer W.I. "Bill" Mott will travel with the horse on the plane and will journey to Del Mar by automobile.
DARE AND GO IS A DEFINITE "GO" FOR SATURDAY'S PACIFIC CLASSIC
Trainer Richard Mandella confirmed Monday morning that Dare and Go, owned by La Presle Farm, will start in the $1,000,000, Grade I Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Saturday, August 10. Earlier, Mandella had said the 5-year-old son of Alydar out of the Secretariat mare Partygoer had a "small chance" to make the field.
Following Dare and Go's 5-furlong workout in :59 4/5 over the main track Monday morning, Mandella said, "He went really good. He's had two races in him now and he looks fantastic." After a 2 1/2-month layoff, Dare and Go finished fifth in the Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup on June 30 and then came back with a strong second-place finish in Hollywood's Grade II Bel Air Handicap on July 14, beaten a head by Cleante.
Dare and Go, who will be ridden by Alex Solis, gives Mandella three chances to foil Cigar's quest for the victory record. Also set for the starting gate are Burt Bacharach's Soul of the Matter, who battled Cigar courageously before falling a half- length short in the $4 million Dubai Cup March 27, and Rio Claro Thoroughbreds' Siphon, winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup.
Soul of the Matter galloped Monday and will work a half-mile on Wednesday, Mandella said. For Siphon, who galloped Monday, also, Mandella's schedule calls for a Tuesday workout of either a half-mile or 5 furlongs.
Tinners Way, who will be trying to win the Pacific Classic for the third straight year, worked 6 furlongs in 1:14 4/5 on the main track with regular rider Eddie Delahoussaye aboard. Trainer Robert Frankel said Juddmonte Farms' 6-year- old son of 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat is coming to the race just right. Reminded that if Cigar is beaten, the winning trainer would automatically become a villain, Frankel said with a little smile, "I can handle that."
Trainer Eduardo Inda gave Luthier Fever the day off after his 5-furlong workout in 1:01 2/5 on Sunday. The son of Mt. Livermore walked the shedrow. Inda said his trainee, who is owned by Cuadra TYT Inc., would gallop up to the race, with an open gallop through the stretch Friday. The withdrawal from the Pacific Classic field of Helmsman Sunday because of a pulled back muscle leaves Luthier Fever as the sole horse eligible for the participation bonus for the MGM Grand Classic Crown, meaning the entire bonus of $500,000 is his if he starts in the race Saturday. Luthier Fever finished second in the Santa Anita Handicap and last in the Gold Cup.
David Hofmans, who trains Golden Eagle Farm's Dramatic Gold, said a definite decision on the gelded son of Slew o' Gold won't be made until Wednesday's entry time, but he is training him as if he'll run. The 5-year-old galloped two miles Monday, and a half-mile workout is scheduled for Wednesday. Dramatic Gold finished third in the 1994 Pacific Classic as a 3-year-old.
At Saratoga, Cigar continues to progress well toward the upcoming historic date in the Pacific Classic. Dave Wallace, an assistant to trainer W.I."Bill" Mott, said the son of Palace Music galloped Monday and is still scheduled for his final pre-race work on Wednesday. He'll travel by air on Thursday to the Ontario, CA., airport and be vanned to Del Mar.
ADVANCED WAGERING WILL BE OFFERED FRIDAY ON PACIFIC CLASSIC
Del Mar will offer advanced wagering all day Friday for Saturday's sixth running of the $1,000,000 Pacific Classic.
The formats for the wagering will be win, place, show, quinella and exacta.
NATIONAL TELECONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR PACIFIC CLASSIC DRAW
Del Mar will hold a Pacific Classic Draw Brunch on Wednesday at the track's satellite-wagering facility, during which a national teleconference will be held among media representatives from across the country and connections to the horses entered in the $1,000,000 race to be run Saturday.
Cigar trainer W.I. "Bill" Mott is expected to participate by telephone from his barn at Saratoga, NY., as is jockey Jerry Bailey. Tinners Way's trainer, Robert Frankel, will be on the phone from his barn at Hollywood Park. Connections for all the other horses are expected to be available at the brunch site.
FIELD OF TEN 2-YEAR-OLD FILLIES TO TRY DEL MAR'S SORRENTO STAKES
Ten 2-year-old fillies will tackle the Grade II Sorrento Stakes on Wednesday at Del Mar as the 6 1/2-furlong dash will be run for the 28th time.
If all 10 go to the post, the total purse will be $106,550, with $66,550 going to the winner.
Heading the field in the prep for the Grade II, $250,000-guaranteed Del Mar Debutante on August 25 is Just Lookn, who is two for two, with wins at Golden Gate Fields and Pleasanton. She'll carry high weight of 119.
Top earner in the field is Montecito, who is owned by Robert and Beverly Lewis and trained by D. Wayne Lukas. The daughter of Seeking the Gold has one win and two thirds in four starts with earnings of $40,282.
A non-winner in the field, Trav n' Kris, is second highest on the earnings list with $36,620 in her poke, based mostly on a second-place finish in Hollywood Park's Grade II Landaluce Stakes July 6.
Both Montecito and Trav n' Kris, who is owned by Annabelle Stute and trained by Mel Stute, have the most experience in the field, with four starts each.
GRAMMY WINNER DIANE SCHUUR TO SING AT "JAZZ AT DEL MAR"
A singing star of the first magnitude will shine at Del Mar Wednesday when Diane Schuur makes her initial appearance "where the turf meets the surf" in the second of the racing season's "Jazz at Del Mar presented by Mercedes-Benz."
Schuur, a five-time Grammy Award nominee and two-time winner, will take the spotlight when the free concert is offered following the day's races. It takes place in the Plaza de Mexico, near the track's main gate, starting at approximately 6:30 p.m.
WEEKEND STAKES SHAPING UP AS VERY COMPETITIVE TRIO
Aside from its showcase race of each year, the Pacific Classic, Del Mar has three other stakes coming up this weekend that shape up as sharply contentious affairs.
Solid for Friday's $100,000-added Escondido Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course are Bedivere, with Chris McCarron; Bon Point with Corey Nakatani; Dernier Empereur with Patrick Valenzuela; Party Season with Alex Solis, Polish Admiral with Brice Blanc and Shanawi, no rider named.
In Saturday's Grade III, $100,000-added Rancho Bernardo Handicap, for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track, the field is shaping up this way: Evil's Pic, Eddie Delahoussaye; Rhapsodic, Corey Nakatani; Track Gal, Chris McCarron; Denim Yenem, no rider named. Among the possibles in the field is Cat's Cradle.
Taking the spotlight on Sunday will be the Grade III, $125,000-added La Jolla Handicap for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Considered sure-fire starters are Ambivalent, winner of one division of the Oceanside Stakes on opening day, August 24, with Rene Douglas; Caribbean Pirate, winner of the other division of the Oceanside, with Chris Antley; Belair Cozz, Eddie Delahoussaye; Benton Creek, Kent Desormeaux; Mateo, Alex Solis; Roar, Corey Nakatani; Semoran, Chris McCarron; and The Barking Shark, Corey Black.
SHORE LINES: Richard Mandella plans to school his three Pacific Classic prospects, and Best Pal, between races Friday evening. The schooling probably will take place between the first and second races or the second and third, Mandella said .... Trainer Mike Harrington said Monday morning that his Swiss Yodeler, winner of the Hollywood Juvenile Championship July 21, is being pointed for the Grade III Best Pal Stakes, formerly named the Balboa Stakes, on August 21 .... Trainer Walter Greenman, off to a big start at the seaside, says his success is based on "running them where they belong; where they can win."