The Running Horse (http://www.isd1.com)FIVE DISTAFFERS SET TO GO IN DEL MAR'S CHULA VISTA 'CAP ON SUNDAY
Five graded stakes campaigners are scheduled to go postward on Sunday to contest Del Mar's 26th edition of the Grade II Chula Vista Handicap for fillies and mares, 3 years old and older, at 1 1/16 miles on the main track. If all start, the purse will be $311,200, with $191,200 going to the winner.
Heading the field is Exotic Wood, a multiple graded-stakes winner carrying a record of eight victories and a second in nine career outings. Her most recent score came July 28 in her usual front-running fashion in the Grade I Go For Wand Handicap at Saratoga. The only blot on her record, if one can call it that, was a second-place finish in Santa Anita's Grade I Santa Monica Handicap where she finished a half-length short of Serena's Song.
Exotic Wood, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Martin Wygod and trained by Ron Ellis, will carry 120 pounds, including Chris McCarron, her regular rider.
Carrying high weight of 120 pounds, also, will be Sidney Craig's Different, who has an equally sparkling record of seven wins and a second in eight career starts. In her most recent outing on July 7, the Ron McAnally trainee posted a 1 3/4- length victory in Hollywood Park's Grade I Beverly Hills Handicap. She'll have the saddle services of Eddie Delahoussaye
Trying to repeat as Chula Vista victress will be 505 Farms' Borodislew, who captured last year's race under the training of Eduardo Inda. John Shireffs now conditions the 6-year-old daughter of Seattle Slew, and she'll be ridden by Corey Nakatani. Adding more competitive edge to the race are Glen Hill Farm's Top Rung, with David Flores aboard; and Ridder Thoroughbred Stable's Cat's Cradle, a Grade I winner last year at 3, with Chris Antley.
JOCKEY MCCARRON WILL CHAT WITH FANS ON DEL MAR INTERNET SITE
Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron will be the next guest in Del Mar's hosted chat room on its computer Internet site.
He will answer fans' questions live from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PDT on Wednesday, September 4.
Future scheduled chat room guests include Trevor Denman (in a return appearance) on Saturday, September 7, and turf writer/author Jay Hovdey on Monday, September 9, both in the same 11:30-12:30 time slot.
Del Mar's Internet site can be found at http://www.dmtc.com.
NOMINATIONS IN FOR FINAL WEEKEND'S TWO STAKES AT DEL MAR
Fifteen fillies and mares have been nominated for the 43rd running of the Grade II, $125,000-added Palomar Handicap on Saturday, September 7, and 13 3-year- olds and older horses have been tapped as possible runners in the 10th Grade II, $200,000-added Del Mar Breeders' Cup Handicap to be run Sunday, September 8.
Here's the list for the Palomar, at 1 1/16 miles on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course: Bouchee Bee, Cat's Cradle, Different, Dusty Girl, Flagbird, Inscrutable Dancer, Real Connection, Slewvera, Smolensk, Swiss Deal, Tabled With Saros, Track Gal, Two Ninety Jones, Wheatley Special and Yearly Tour.
Possibly heading into the Breeders' Cup Handicap at a mile on the main track are Adams Trail, Alphabet Soup, Atticus, Cezind, Chequer, Dramatic Gold, Gentlemen, Gold Land, Larry the Legend, Megan's Interco, Powerful Punch, Savinio and Sovereign Sage.
SANTA BARBARA SATELLITE FAN WINS TRIP TO DEL MAR - AND PICK SIX
Through a Del Mar promotion that awards free trips to the seaside course for fans at satellite outlets, Ray and Helen Sensoli spent August 22 at the track celebrating Mrs. Sensoli's 72nd birthday.
That's usually enough of a celebration for anyone, but the Sensolis went one better on the day. Mrs. Sensoli, just picking numbers in her first visit ever to Del Mar, hit the day's Pick Six worth $22,000 for her winning ticket.
The Sensolis believe they'd like to come to the track again.
TRAINER LEWIS IS PLANNING ANOTHER DEL MAR START FOR "LARRY"
Craig Lewis, happy with Larry the Legend's two starts at Del Mar and encouraged even further by a sparkling :46 2/5 workout on Monday, is looking for one more race at the seaside course for the 4-year-old 1995 winner of the Santa Anita Derby before suffering injuries.
He's considering either the Grade II, $200,000-added Del Mar Breeders' Cup Handicap at a mile on Sunday, September 8, or the Crazy Kid Stakes at 6 furlongs on Wednesday, September 4.
Of Monday's work, Lewis said, "We finally let him run a little. I like the horse so much, I think I was a little cautious with him [in training]."
OLD-TIME RIDERS GETTING FIT FOR THE POPULAR ROCKING CHAIR DERBY
Seven riders from yesteryear are getting themselves in shape for the upcoming Rocking Chair Derby, the popular exhibition race matching old-time riders. The race will be presented as a non-wagering event on the card Saturday, September 7.
The 5 1/2-furlong race on the main track will feature maiden Cal-breds aged 3 and up and these riders: Rudy Campas, Bill Harmatz, Jack Leonard, Alex Maese, Frank Olivares, Danny Velasquez and Ray York, last year's Rocking Chair winner as well as winner of the 1954 Kentucky Derby aboard Determine.
All seven rode in last year's Rocking Chair event, which also had Don Pierce as the eighth rider in the race. Pierce isn't riding this year because of demanding duties as agent for jockeys David Flores and Goncalino Almeida.
SHORE LINES: Here are some notable workouts from this morning: 3 furlongs - Tom Cruiser, :35 2/5; 4 furlongs - Zanferrier, :48 2/5; 5 furlongs - Matty G, :58 4/5; Swiss Yodeler, 1:00 3/5; 6 furlongs - Alphabet Soup, 1:13 1/5; Dramatic Gold, 1:11 2/5.
The Running Horse (http://www.isd1.com)