Flamboyant was feeling his oats prior to the Belmont Derby Invitational (NYRA/Susie Raisher/Adam Coglianese Photography)

The well-traveled Flamboyant will be back in California on Sunday to face seven rivals in the Grade 2, $300,000 Del Mar Derby going 1 1/8 miles on the turf. The Paddy Gallagher trainee's career has thus far taken him from France to New York and California.

The bay colt has yet to finish worse than third from nine lifetime starts, going 2-2-2 from six French starts before making his U.S. debut a neck score in the La Puente at Santa Anita Park on April 19. Flamboyant shipped cross-country to Belmont Park for the May 26 Pennine Ridge and battled in the stretch to just miss by a head on the wire.

Enterprising is seeking a rare sweep of Del Mar's three-year-old turf stakes (Benoit Photos)

Enterprising appears to be Flamboyant's biggest threat in the Del Mar Derby. The Elusive Quality colt dropped his initial start but has gone 5-1-2 from eight starts since, including victories in the first two legs of Del Mar's turf series for three-year-olds. Enterprising captured the Oceanside on July 17 by a neck, extended his margin of victory to 1 1/4 lengths for the La Jolla last out on August 9 and hopes to join Ladies Din (1998) and Blackdoun (2004) as the only ones to sweep the series in the Del Mar Derby.

The Tom Proctor pupil has also racked up scores in the Pasadena and Eddie Logan at Santa Anita, and placings in the El Camino Real Derby and California Derby at Golden Gate Fields. He ran third to Flamboyant in the La Puente prior to his past two Del Mar wins, and keeps jockey Mike Smith in the irons.

Home Run Kitten just missed by a neck to Flamboyant in the La Puente while holding Enterprising 1 1/2 lengths to third, and has captured his two races since. The David Hofmans-trained son of Kitten's Joy triumphed in an optional claimer and the Singletary at Santa Anita, but hasn't competed since that latter event on June 21. Regular rider Joe Talamo has the call as Home Run Kitten returns to action off the more than two-month break.

Fashion Plate's last win came in the Santa Anita Oaks in early April (Benoit Photos)

Sophomore fillies will get their turn in the spotlight earlier on the card when seven line up for the Grade 3, $100,000 Torrey Pines at a mile on the Polytrack.

Fashion Plate is seeking a return to her winning ways after a pair of dismal performances in the Kentucky Oaks and Acorn. The Simon Callaghan charge captured a pair of Grade 1s prior to that when taking the Santa Anita Oaks and Las Virgenes. Stevens takes the reins from a recuperating Gary Stevens and will try to guide Fashion Plate back to the winner's circle in her California return.

Standing in Fashion Plate's way is the Bob Baffer-trained Jojo Warrior. The Pioneerof the Nile filly hasn't been seen since June 21, but on that day wired the 1 1/16-mile Summertime Oaks by 5 1/4 lengths under a returning Martin Garcia. Also in the Torrey Pines with a chance are Margot Machance, fourth in the grassy Honeymoon and Providencia in her last two, and More Complexity, a 4 3/4-length optional claiming winner on August 8 over the track.