Stable Notes Del Mar, California Thursday, August 28 (Day 32)

DOWTY, RAINBOW DANCER HEAD FIELD OF EIGHT FOR DEL MAR HANDICAP

Escondido Handicap winner Dowty, owned by Allen E. Paulson and trained by Bill Mott assistant Simon Bray, and Evergreen Farm's Rainbow Dancer, trained by Jenine Sahadi, top a field of eight heading for Saturday's Grade II, $250,000 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on Del Mar's Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

Purse money for the winner of the 58th running of the 'Cap is $150,000.

Dowty will carry high weight of 119, while Rainbow Dancer, who finished fifth in Hollywood Park's Sunset Handicap July 20 following a victory in the Hollywood Turf Handicap May 26, is weighted at 118. Dowty will be ridden by Gary Stevens and Rainbow Dancer draws the saddle services of Del Mar's leading rider Alex Solis.

Other contenders are Cohen and Red Baron's Barn's Perim, trained by Darrell Vienna and ridden by Brice Blanc; James E. Helzer's Lord Jain, trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Rene Douglas; Shadwell Farms' Neil Drysdale trainee, Mufattish, who will have Eddie Delahoussaye in the saddle; Juddmonte Farms' Cloud Forest, trained by Robert Frankel and ridden by Kent Desormeaux; Rio Claro Thoroughbreds' Seaborg, who is trained by Richard Mandella and will be ridden by Chris McCarron; and Wafare Farms' Old Chapel, under the conditioning of David Hofmans, with Julio Garcia in the irons.

STUTE'S REAL CONNECTION IS A PROBLEM WALKER, BUT A MAJOR RUNNER

Bill Thomas' Real Connection, trained by veteran conditioner Mel Stute, seems always to have trouble walking after a race, but she certainly is game to run during them. Because of her somewhat peculiar gait, she makes the vet's list often, putting workout requirements on her before she can run another time.

Even so, the 6-year-old mare by Vigors who was bought privately last year during the Del Mar meeting by Thomas, has been a major player in graded stakes this year. She is winless in 10 starts, but nine of those outings were in graded races, including four Grade I's. And she figures to be back Sunday in Del Mar's Grade II, $300,000 Chula Vista Handicap.

Since the winner's portion of the purse is $180,000, a victory would leave Real Connection less than $7,000 short of being a millionaire. Her ledger now stands at $813,372. In her most recent five starts she was second in the Grade II Wilshire, the Grade I Gamely and the Grade I Vanity, all handicaps at Hollywood Park, and the Grade I Ramona Handicap at Del Mar August 2.

As for her walking problems, Stute said this morning he has not been able to figure it out yet, but "in two or three days after a race she's over it. Then she wants to train again and run again." And she does run. Stute said, "She wants to run. She works fast and she does everything fast. She's the kind you look for."

As for how she might do in the Chula Vista, Stute said it would depend on the pace. "She can run up close or can come from farther out," Stute said. "We'll leave it up to Goncalino [her regular rider Goncalino Almeida], he'll be out there on her."

Expected to be in the race, also, are Chile Chatte, with Gary Stevens; Radu Cool, with Chris McCarron; Supercilious, with Brice Blanc; Toda Una Dama, with Alex Solis; and Traces of Gold, with J.G. Matos. On the "possible" list is Cara Rafaela, who will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux if she's entered.

RACE FOR RIDER TITLE TIGHT; BAFFERT LOOSE ON LEAD IN TRAINER RACE

With 12 days remaining in Del Mar's 43-day race meet, the race for the jockey title continues to be close, while Bob Baffert appears loose on the lead for top trainer honors.

Alex Solis, riding for his second consecutive Del Mar title and his seventh straight overall at Southern California's three major tracks, nudged his lead to three Wednesday with two victories while Kent Desormeaux scored one. That made the numbers 31-28 in Solis' favor. Desormeaux is shooting for his third Del Mar title, having captured the top spot in 1992 and '93.

Though Hall of Fame rider Eddie Delahoussaye is sitting third with 24 wins, the race appears to be one for the top two. Apprentice rider J.G. Matos has 20 victories and Gary Stevens, the most recent inductee in racing's Hall of Fame, rounds out the top five with 17 wins.

The trainer-title race continues to be something of a runaway for Baffert, who has 19 wins so far in the meet in his quest for his first trainer honors at the seaside course. Six-time leading trainer Mike Mitchell is second with 12 wins.

Baffert's 19 wins in 59 starts gives him a gaudy 32 per cent winning figure and his in-the-money ranking shows him at 73 per cent. He has 10 seconds and 14 thirds. Dan Hendricks, Doug Peterson and Ron McAnally, all with eight victories, fill out the top five.

TRAINER DUPUIS ENCOURAGED BY PERCUTANT'S ARLINGTON MILLION RUN

Jean-Pierre Dupuis, who had been very emphatic that his Percutant would run well in last Sunday's Arlington Million, is looking ahead now to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Turf at Hollywood Park on November 8.

He reported from his Del Mar barn this morning that Percutant, who dumped his rider and was scratched from Del Mar's Pacific Classic August 9 and consequently was shipped to Arlington International Race Course for the Million, came out of the 1 1/4-mile grass event in "top shape."

Pointing to past success at Hollywood Park in other Novembers, Dupuis recalled that he won the 1985 Hollywood Derby with Charming Duke and 1995 Hollywood Turf Express with Cyrano Storme. "This is my month and my racetrack," the trainer said with a glint in his eye that implied confidence in success in the 1 1/2-mile B.C. Turf.

THREE FREE HANDICAPPING SEMINARS SET FOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND

Del Mar's regular free weekend handicapping seminars will stretch one more day this weekend as Labor Day will offer special attractions on Monday. The seminars are held in the area known as the Seaside Terrace near the head of the track's stretch.

Special guest on Saturday will be John "Johnny B" Bucalo, a former jockey and exercise rider who has been a favorite at seminars in the past. Sunday's guest will be Jack Brohamer, handicapper for "Today's Racing Digest." The seminars on those two days will be at the regular time of 12:30 to 1:15 p.m.

On Monday, Bill Harmatz, a retired jockey who has ridden in all nine Rocking Chair Derbys at Del Mar so far and is scheduled for Number 10 next Saturday, will be the guest, and that session will run from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. because of the early starting time of 12:30 for the first race.

The seminars offer a chance for new fans to learn the art of handicapping, and for all fans to get the guest's insights into the day's program.

SHORE LINES -- Trainer John Sadler is entertaining Breeders' Cup thoughts these days for his very fine sprinter, Track Gal. He said this morning he plans to try her in the Ancient Title during Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting and if she runs well there, he'll send her into the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Hollywood Park November 8. Sadler said the mare has won two races in three tries on Hollywood Park's main track, setting a track record of 1:02 for five furlongs in one of her wins. ... Sandpit came out of Sunday's Arlington Million in good shape, said Gary Mandella, assistant to his father, Richard. The 8-year-old runner is back in the Mandella barn at Hollywood Park, "where it's quieter," the younger Mandella said. Is retirement in the near future for Sandpit? "We've thought about that for a couple of years," young Mandella said, "but he always runs himself out of retirement."

TODAY'S SIMULCAST STAKES -- Saratoga: Waya.