Bourbon Bay switches to Polytrack for Cougar

A multiple Grade 2 winner on turf, BOURBON BAY (Sligo Bay [Ire]) will try

Polytrack when he lines up for Friday evening's $125,000

Cougar II H.

(G3) at Del Mar. Eight horse have been entered in the 1 1/2-mile event,

which guarantees the winner an automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup Marathon

(G3) as a "Win and You're In" event.

Bourbon Bay reeled off consecutive victories earlier this season in the San

Luis Obispo (G2), San Luis Rey H. (G2) and San Juan Capistrano (G2) on the turf

at Santa Anita. Third in the Charles Whittingham Memorial (G1) two starts back,

the Neil Drysdale-trained gelding exits a fourth, beaten 2 1/4 lengths, in

the July 2 United Nations (G1) at Monmouth Park. The five-year-old will be

making only his second attempt on an all-weather track Friday, having finished

fourth in the 2009 Sham S. (G3) on the now-defunct Pro Ride surface at Santa

Anita.

The hot-riding Joe Talamo, who was last up for an allowance victory 10 starts

back, will regain the mount on the 121-pound highweight. Bourbon Bay will be

spotting his opponents three-to-nine pounds.

Multiple Grade 1 runner-up SETSUKO (Pleasantly Perfect) is the main rival.

The Richard Mandella-trained colt was on the Triple Crown trail last season,

finishing second in both the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Sham, but was excluded

from the Kentucky Derby (G1) field due to insignificant earnings and headed to

the sidelines following a fourth in the American Turf (G2) on the same weekend.

He re-appeared this winter, posting a pair of unplaced efforts, before turning

up with an excellent effort in the Santa Anita H. (G1), missing by only a nose

after a troubled trip. The four-year-old exits a fourth in the Hollywood Gold

Cup (G1) and will retain the services of Victor Espinoza in the Cougar.

Grade 2-placed DAHOUD (NZ) (Scaredee Cat) will bring encouraging form into

the Cougar, winning a turf allowance/optional claiming event at Hollywood Park

most recently for Jerry Hollendorfer, and OILISBLACKGOLD (Tapit) recorded a good

runner-up versus similar rivals last time and is eligible to move forward in his

second start off a layoff for Craig Dollase.