Stable Notes Del Mar, California Monday, September 1, (Day 36)

FANTASTIC FELLOW HEADS FIELD OF SEVEN FOR 53RD DEL MAR DERBY

The Thoroughbred Corp.'s Fantastic Fellow will be running to become the first ever to sweep Del Mar's 3-year-old grass series that culminates in today's 53rd running of the Grade II, $300,000 Del Mar Derby at 1 1/8 miles on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. He heads a field of seven for the event. All will carry 121 pounds, and the winner's share of the purse is $180,000.

Hoping to upset the two-time stakes winner here are Flying With Eagles, Brave Act, Falkenham, Floriselli, Anet and Worldly Ways.

The Del Mar Derby will be the third race in today's "Coast-To-Coast Triple," a special exotic wager as part of the "America's Day at the Races" celebration. The first two races of the Triple are the Miss Woodford at Monmouth Park in New Jersey and the Springfield Stakes at Arlington International Race Course near Chicago. Because of that, the Derby will be run as the fourth race on today's 10-race Del Mar card and is scheduled for 2:20. There will be an early first post of 12:30 p.m. instead of the normal 2 p.m. start. The 10th race is scheduled to go off at 5:20 p.m.

RADU COOL AND TRAINER SHIRREFFS JUST FINE AFTER CHULA VISTA WIN

Trainer John Shirreffs was wearing a broad smile this morning, still basking in the bright light of victory by his trainee Radu Cool in Sunday's Grade II, $300,000 Chula Vista Handicap.

"She came out of the race very well," Shirreffs said. Of his own feelings, the trainer said, "I'm very thrilled. It was a big race for us." It was, indeed, his biggest win as a trainer for Marshall Naify's 505 Farms.

He's now looking at the $1-million Breeders' Cup Distaff at Hollywood Park November 8 for the 5-year-old chestnut mare. Shirreffs said he might run her again before the Distaff if he can find a race that won't knock her out. "But I'm in a good position, because she always runs so well fresh, so I really don't have to have another race if I can't find the right one," the New Hampshire native said.

Shirreffs pointed out, also, that owner Naify always donates 10 per cent of the owner's share in an added money race to the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund, a charity founded by Hall of Fame rider Chris McCarron, his wife, Judy, and comedian Tim Conway. McCarron, of course, was aboard the winner Saturday for his fourth straight victory in the Chula Vista, putting him in the Del Mar record books again. The win Sunday was only the third time a rider had won a Del Mar stakes race four years in a row. McCarron won the Graduation Stakes from 1979-82 and Bill Shoemaker won the Del Mar Futurity from 1971-74.

McCarron also is the seaside track's all-time stakes-winning rider with 110 victories, having surpassed Shoemaker's mark of 93 in that category in 1995.

FINAL WEEKEND'S TWO BIG STAKES RACES BEGINNING TO SHAPE UP WELL

As the final weekend of Del Mar racing approaches, fans will be treated to what are shaping up as two competitive stakes races. Saturday's Grade III, $125,000-added Palomar Handicap looks as if it will draw at least five and maybe six fillies and mares, and the Grade II, $200,000-added Del Mar Breeders' Cup Handicap on Sunday has four solid prospects at this early stage, with the potential to grow to at least seven or eight.

A feature of the Palomar will be the expected appearance of two-time seasonal stakes winner Famous Digger, who will be tackling older horses for the first time. The 3-year-old Barry Abrams trainee has dominated her class during the meet by posting victories in the Grade II San Clemente Handicap July 26 and the Grade I Del Mar Oaks August 17. Brice Blanc retains the ride on the Let It Ride Stable's standard bearer.

The elders she'll likely take on in the 1 1/16-mile race on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course include Thomas M. and Marguerite F. Cavanagh's Blushing Heiress, who will have Chris McCarron in the saddle; Janis R. Whitham's Listening, with Alex Solis; Ken Porter's Taxable Deduction, with Eddie Delahoussaye; and Halo Farms and Hollendorfer's Traces of Gold, with apprentice J.G. Matos. On the "possible" list is Kenis & 3+U Stable's Wheatly Special, and if she starts, Rene Douglas gets the call.

Heading the list of prospects for the Del Mar B.C. Handicap are The Thoroughbred Corp.'s Crafty Friend, who finished third in Del Mar's Grade I, $1-million Pacific Classic August 9, and Anderson and Waranch's Northern Afleet, winner of the Grade III San Diego Handicap July 26. Also appearing solid for the one-mile race on the main track are Mr. and Mrs. Martin Wygod's Benchmark and Cobra Farm's Pinfloron.

On the "possible" list are Cobra Farm's Savinio, Dizney and English's Semoran, Refinado Tom Inc.'s Refinado Tom and The Thoroughbred Corp.'s Coup D'Argent.

YORK TRAINING FOR TRY AT THIRD STRAIGHT ROCKING CHAIR DERBY WIN

Ray York, who added the most recent two Rocking Chair Derby victories to his win in the 1954 Kentucky Derby aboard Determine, is in serious training at Henry Moreno's barn for his attempt at the hat trick of winning three straight Rocking Chair runs this Saturday.

"I would love to win three in a row," York said this morning while relaxing with Moreno in the trainer's barn office. "I wish I could ride a horse for Henry in the race."

Moreno, who said of York, "I've known this mutt since he was 14," may play a major role in York's thoughts now of a riding landmark for him. "We're talking about 2000," York said. "Henry said he'll put me on some horses in 2000 so I can say I've ridden in seven decades." York, who thinks that will make him the only rider ever to do that, at least in North America, has ridden in every decade since 1940, he said.

This year's Rocking Chair Derby will be held as a betless exhibition between the sixth and seventh races. Joining York in the starting gate will be Rudy Campas, Bill Harmatz, Jack Leonard, Alex Maese, Frank Olivares, Rudy Rosales and Danny Velasquez.

SWEET BABY BLUES BAND HEADLINES "JAZZ AT DEL MAR" SERIES FINALE

Back for their fourth appearance on "Jazz at Del Mar," Jeannie and Jimmy Cheatham and the Sweet Baby Blues Band will wrap up the seaside track's six-concert jazz series Wednesday in the Plaza de Mexico just inside the Grandstand main gate.

The concerts, concluding their seventh season, are free to racegoers and are presented by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in cooperation with Radio Station KIFM. For the second year, the series has the backing of Mercedes- Benz of North America and its three authorized dealers in the San Diego area.

The Cheathams, who've lived in San Diego since 1978, and their band that plays Kansas City-style blues were fixtures on the first three "Jazz at Del Mar" series, 1991-93, but haven't played here since then. Their music is unrestrained, exuberant, soulful, rollicking and wild.

LAFFIT PINCAY, JR. WATCH -- In his pursuit of Bill Shoemaker's record of 889 victories at Del Mar, Laffit Pincay, Jr. starts today's races with 886 victories. Pincay's mounts today (race and morning-line odds: First, Veegan, 10-1; Third, A Golden Rose, 5-2; Sixth, Treasure, 30-1; Ninth: High Gun Ryder, 10-1. Pincay rode at Emerald Downs in Auburn, WA, Sunday and booted home three winners from five mounts, including the track's 2- year-old stake feature.

SHORE LINES -- There will be a slight deviation from the norm in this coming weekend's race schedule. There will be nine races on Friday instead of the usual eight. On Saturday, there will be nine races and the Rocking Chair Derby, a betless exhibition featuring retired jockeys. The regular weekend card of 10 races will return on Sunday. ... Jockey agent Richie Silverstein is booking mounts now for Larry Sterling, Jr. in addition to his long-time rider Martin Pedroza. ... Silver Charm, who will be the star of today's Parade of Champions at Del Mar as part of the track's salute to "America's Day at the Races," has been going to the track to jog during the past week in preparation for more serious training as trainer Bob Baffert looks forward to a 1998 racing season for this year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner. Silver Charm is a leading contender for an Eclipse Award as the year's top 3-year-old male.

TODAY'S SIMULCAST STAKES -- Saratoga: Seneca Handicap (III), Forego Handicap (II); Monmouth Park: Miss Woodford; Calder Race Course: Noble Royalty Handicap; Arlington International Race Course: The Springfield; Philadelphia Park: Pennsylvania Derby (III); River Downs: Cradle Stakes; Ruidoso Downs: All-American Futurity.