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Mr. Commons steps up to face elders in Del Mar Mile MR. COMMONS (Artie Schiller), an impressive 1 1/2-length winner of the Oceanside S. on the opening-day program, will make his first start against older horses in Saturday's $200,000 Del Mar Mile H. (G2). The three-year-old will face a short but talented group of five rivals that includes Grade 1 winner CHAMP PEGASUS (Fusaichi Pegasus) and multiple Grade 1-placed CARACORTADO (Cat Dreams). Trained by John Shirreffs, Mr. Commons recorded a smart 5 1/2-length victory when making his turf debut in a maiden special weight event at Santa Anita in mid-January, but he was re-directed to the Triple Crown trail, narrowly capturing a one-mile dirt allowance prior to a third in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). The bay colt faltered when shipping to Pimlico for the Preakness (G1), finishing a distant eighth, and was freshened two months for his next start in the Oceanside. Mr. Commons rallied wide into contention on the far turn of the one-mile turf affair and inhaled his rivals in eye-catching fashion upon entering the stretch run, cruising unopposed through the final eighth of a mile under a chilly Mike Smith, who will return for the Del Mar Mile. Mr. Commons will receive weight from his main rivals Saturday under a 114-pound impost. Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) runner-up Champ Pegasus is the 121-pound highweight. Winner of the 2010 Clement L. Hirsch (G1), the Richard Mandella-trained horse captured the San Luis Obispo H. (G2) in his second outing this season but hasn't started since a disappointing 12th in the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) in late March. The classy five-year-old will be cutting back in trip, making his first start at less than 8 1/2 furlongs since his career debut in December 2009, and he'll retain the services of Joel Rosario. Caracortado has run well in two Grade 1 starts at the distance this year, posting a head second in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile and a neck second in the Shoemaker Mile (G1), and the Michael Machowsky-trained gelding will be looking to rebound from a non-threatening third as the favorite in the nine-furlong Eddie Read (G1) earlier this meet. The Grade 2 winner will tote 120-pound assignment with the hot-riding Joe Talamo, who recently surged to the top of the Del Mar standings. Northern California shipper OUR NAUTIQUE (NZ) (Pins), winner of the San Francisco Mile (G3) earlier this year, will invade for Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer off an easy victory in the Joseph T. Grace H. at Santa Rosa. CALIMONCO (Storm Cat) and VICTORY PETE (Five Star Day), the first- and third-place finishers in the July 27 Wickerr S., round out the field.
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