Stable Notes Del Mar, California
Friday, August 1, 1997 (Day 9)

MARLIN HEADS FIELD OF SEVEN PRIMED FOR GRADE I EDDIE REED 'CAP

Millionaire Marlin, owned by Michael Tabor and trained by D. Wayne Lukas, is the headliner in a solid field of seven ready to go to the post in the 24th running of the Grade I, $300,000 Eddie Read Handicap Sunday at Del Mar.

Ready to tackle Marlin, who has won the Grade I San Juan Capistrano and Grade II San Luis Rey at Santa Anita and the Grade II Sunset Handicap at Hollywood Park this year, are Evergreen Farm's El Angelo, trained by Jenine Sahadi; Juddmonte Farms' Expelled, conditioned by Hall of Famer Robert Frankel; Sheikh Maktoum's Labeeb, from the barn of Neil Drysdale; Horton, Merhab and Nance's Naninja, trained by Mike Mitchell; Cohen and Red Baron's Barn's Perim, trained by Darrell Vienna; and the Estate of Herbert Allen's Smooth Runner, trained by Rick Mettee.

High weight in the field at 122 is Marlin, who also carries the heaviest earnings ledger with $1.7 million in his poke. Second highest earner in the field is Labeeb, who carry second high weight of 119. The British-bred son of Lear Fan won the Grade I Hollywood Derby in 1995, Hollywood Park' Grade 2 American Derby in 1996 and Santa AnitaÕs Grade II El Rincon Handicap this year.

Also in at 119 is El Angelo, who comes into the race off of a victory in this year' American Handicap on July 4. Earlier, the El Gran Senor horse won Hollywood Park's Grade III Inglewood Handicap.

Here's the way the field will line up from the rail, with weights and riders: Labeeb, Corey Black; Nininja, 113, Rene Douglas; El Angelo, Alex Solis; Expelled, 113, Julio Garcia; Perim, 114, Brice Blanc; Marlin, Corey Nakatani; Smooth Runner, 115, Eddie Delahoussaye.

STUTE HOPES TO START LAST YEAR'S BEST PAL RUNNER-UP DURING MEET

Golden Bronze, who finished second to Swiss Yodeler in last yearÕs Grade III Best Pal Stakes, appears ready to return to the races from a layoff dating back to last yearÕs Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita. Trainer Mel Stute said the 3-year-old owned by Bill M. Thomas and Margaret Pribble had ankle problems and was turned out for the winter.

The trainer said he hopes to start Golden Bronze in a race at Del Mar as preparation for later races this year and a 4-year-old campaign in 1998. He worked five furlongs in :59 4/5 seconds handily on Del MarÕs main track Wednesday.

FIELD OF FIVE OR MORE SHAPING UP FOR GRADE II SORRENTO STAKES

At least five 2-year-old fillies are expected to run in WednesdayÕs 29th edition of the Grade II, $100,000-added Sorrento Stakes. The race is at 6 1/2 furlongs over Del Mar's main track.

Confirmed for the race that serves as a prep for the Grade II, $250,000 Del Mar Debutante on August 24 are Bickerstaff, Bonde and BondeÕs Bent Creek City, trained by Jeff Bonde; Golden Eagle Farm's Career Collection, trained by Wallace Dollase; Gary M. GarberÕs Code Love, trained by David C. Cross, Jr.; Golden State StableÕs Meadow Lake Or Tsu, trained by Dan White; and Heinz Steinmann's Run Classy Lady, trained by Mike Harrington.

Chris McCarron has been named on Bent Creek City and Corey Nakatani has the mount on Career Collection.

5 SHOW EARLY INTEREST IN RANCHO BERNARDO ON PACIFIC CLASSIC DAY

Multiple-stakes winner Track Gal, owned by Oldknow and Phillips and trained by John Sadler, is one of five fillies and mares who are expected to run in the 26th edition of the Grade III, $100,000-added Rancho Bernardo Handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track on August 9. The race will be a supporting feature to the Grade I, $1,000,000 Pacific Classic, Del MarÕs premier race of its 43-day meeting.

Track Gal has won the last two runnings of the Rancho Bernardo. Her victory last year gave Hall of Fame rider Chris McCarron his 100th Del Mar stakes victory.

Expected along with Track Gal are Golden Eagle FarmÕs Advancing Star, trained by Richard Mandella; Ernest Auerbach's Grab the Prize, trained by Darrell Vienna; Ridder Thoroughbred Stable's Raw Gold, from the David Hofmans barn; and Ed Bernstein, Andrew and Irwin Molasky and Ken SullivanÕs Tiffany Diamond, trained by Bruce Headley and winner of the Fantastic Girl Stakes on July 23, Del MarÕs opening day.

DEL MAR DERBY HOPEFULS WILL TRY THEIR LUCK IN GRADE III LA JOLLA

The winners of the two divisions of the Oceanside Stakes on opening day are being primed for the 57th edition of the Grade III, $125,000-added La Jolla Handicap on Sunday, August 10, with an eye toward the Grade II, $300,000 Del Mar Derby on Labor Day, September 1.

The Thoroughbred Corp.'s Fantastic Fellow, winner of the first of the two Oceanside divisions, is solid for the race, according to Mike Marlow, an assistant in charge of the D. Wayne Lukas barn at Del Mar. On the other hand, trainer Richard Cross was a bit more cautious about his trainee, Churchland, winner of the second division of the Oceanside. He indicated he could pass up the La Jolla with the Prestonwood FarmÕs colt in favor of going into the Derby off works.

Also strong possibilities for the La Jolla at this time are Gil V. and JoanneDye, Jr.'s Falkenham, trained by Michael G. Harte; Columbine Stable and Frank Stronach's King of Swing, trained by Richard Mandella; Robert S. Folsom's P.T. Indy, another Mandella trainee; Nike Borchetta, Don Krall and Ed Shahan's One Man Army, from the Bruce Headley barn; Dutton and Popovich's Rarecard, trained by Jerry Dutton; Kirby and Schow's Without Doubt, trained by Declan A. Jackson; and Golden Eagle Farm's Worldly Ways, under the guidance of Wallace Dollase.

AROMA OF CHILI WILL BE WAFTING FROM THE INFIELD ON SATURDAY

Approximately 75 chili cooks will be battling Saturday at Del Mar for the first prize of a trip to the world championships in Reno, NV, as they compete in the Western Regional Chili Cookoff in the trackÕs infield. First prize in the WorldÕs Championship Chili Cookoff on October 5 in Reno is $25,000.

The chefs will turn up the heat from noon to 6 p.m., with free samples being available from the cooks, Premier (the track's caterer) and the Roadhouse Grill beginning at noon to those journeying to the infield for a taste. In addition to the chili cookoff, there also will be a salsa contest, and free samples will be available there, too.

There will be cash prizes for the top three finishers in the chili cookoff of $500, $250 and $100, and the salsa winner will get $250. Announcement of the winners will be made in the trackÕs winner's circle following the seventh race.

The regional cookoff was founded in 1987 in association with the International Chili Society and has become one of the biggest chili events in California.

SHORE LINES -- The scheduled Saturday book-signing by Del Mar author and horse-racing devotee William Murray has been canceled because Murray will have surgery to remove his gall bladder on Saturday. ... Bedouin, who finished 15th in the 1984 Kentucky Derby and now is a retiree with the California Equine Retirement Foundation, will be a star once again as he roams a small corral in the infield Sunday during the second of seven Family Fun Days at Del Mar. Activities for the kids Sunday include a velcro obstacle course, laserfire, an inflatable jump, pony rides and face painting. The fun is free and so is admission for children under 17 who are accompanied by a parent or guardian. Bedouin will return August 17 and 31 and Labor Day, September 1. ... There will be a free Thoro-Graph seminar for handicappers Sunday starting at noon in the Joe Burnham Lounge on the fourth floor of the Grandstand ... Artist Peter Williams, a native of New Zealand, has been painting scenes of Del Mar for more than a week, and he expects to be in the area until August 10. He is frequently seen in the paddock on racing afternoons and on the clockerÕs stand on the backstretch in the mornings. ... Jockey Patrick Valenzuela makes his return to the races after a nine-month suspension aboard three horses on Saturday. Valenzuela is listed to ride Fabulous Guy in the fifth race, Surprise Storm in the sixth and Jazzmanian Devil in the ninth.

TODAY'S SIMULCAST STAKES -- Saratoga: Screen King.