Del Mar set to kick off 69th season

EZ Dreamer (outside) is among the contenders in a typically contentious division of the Oceanside (Benoit Photo) Del Mar, the seaside track co-founded by the legendary Bing Crosby and Pat O'Brien, will commence its 69th season of racing on Wednesday. Not since July 11, 1945, has the famed summer meeting begun so early. As ever, the opening-day feature is the Oceanside S. for three-year-olds going a mile on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. For the 20th straight year, and the 28th time in its 63 runnings, the Oceanside was split into divisions. Each $75,000 division attracted an overflow field of 14, including four also-eligibles. Top contenders in the first division include EZ DREAMER (In Excess [Ire]), who just missed by a nostril in the Cinema H. (G3) last time out; SKY CAPE (Najran), winner of the Harry Henson S. and Alcatraz S. in his past two; Will Rogers S. (G3) runner-up INDIAN SUN (Indian Charlie); and Hill Prince S. (G3) third MORAL COMPASS (Grand Slam).

The

second division features Norfolk S. (G1) hero DIXIE CHATTER (Dixie Union),

who will try to reinvigorate his career on the grass after finishing third in

both the Affirmed H. (G3) and Laz Barrera Memorial S. (G3) this season; multiple

stakes victor CANNONBALL (Catienus); Cinema third LIBERIAN FREIGHTER (Bertrando);

and MR KEPPEL (Ire) (Royal Applause [GB]), who was runner-up to Sky Cape by a

neck in the Alcatraz.

The Oceanside kicks off the richest seaside stakes program yet, featuring 31

major stakes and 11 overnight events in the course of the 43-day meeting.

Horsemen will send their stakes runners after $7.35 million while participating

in a program that includes eight Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" races.

Tops on that list is Del Mar's signature $1 million Pacific Classic (G1), set

for its 18th running on August 24. Joining the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic for a

guaranteed divisional slot on the Breeders' Cup championship program are the San

Diego H. (G2) on Saturday, Cougar II H. on July 30, John C. Mabee H. (G1) on

August 3, Del Mar H. (G2) on August 23, and on Pacific Classic Day, the Rancho

Bernardo H. (G3), Pat O'Brien H. (G2) and Del Mar Mile (G2).

Highlighting the opening weekend will be the $125,000 CTBA Stakes on Friday;

the $300,000 San Diego, a 1 1/16-mile prep for the Pacific Classic, on Saturday;

and the $400,000 Eddie Read H. (G1) at 1 1/8 miles on the turf on Sunday.

The meet closes September 3, with the crowning of the meet's leading

two-year-old in the $250,000 Del Mar Futurity (G1). In all, there will be 19 graded

stakes, of which seven have Grade 1 status.

Fans will welcome back an always-competitive jockey colony that will be

enhanced this year by the return of 2007 champion rider Garrett Gomez and the

addition of Santa Anita and Hollywood Park leading jockey Rafael Bejarano.

Rising star Joel Rosario headlines a list of returnees that includes Michael

Baze, his cousin Tyler Baze, Corey Nakatani, Alex Solis, Victor Espinoza, David

Flores, Mike Smith, Joseph Talamo, Jose Valdivia Jr., Martin

Pedroza, Martin Garcia and Aaron Gryder.

Heading the trainer roster are Hall of Famers Jack Van Berg, Ron McAnally,

Robert Frankel, Neil Drysdale and Richard Mandella, as well as past champions

Bob Baffert, Mike Mitchell, Doug O'Neill and Jeff Mullins.

From the wagering perspective, Del Mar will add the popular Super High Five

to its menu for each day's final race. The $1 wager requires a bettor to select

the first five finishers in exact order. If it is not hit, the Super High Five

is carried over to the next racing day. Del Mar will continue to offer a

superfecta on the last race every day.

Racing is six days a week, with Tuesdays dark. First post is at 2 p.m. (PDT)

each day except Friday. The first four Fridays, under the "Four O'Clock Friday"

banner, begin at 4 p.m., and the final three at 3:30.

In keeping with the lyrics to the track's theme song, "Where the Turf Meets

the Surf," fans will have additional opportunities to "take a train" to Del Mar.

Responding to higher usage and expected further demand with the start of the

racing season, Amtrak has scheduled additional "racetracker trains" on weekends

running between Santa Ana in Orange County and the Solana Beach station near the

track.

Del Mar's fleet of double-decker English buses meets all trains arriving at

the Solana Beach station each racing day and transports fans to the track, which

is about a mile to the south. This includes both Amtrak trains and the local

Coaster trains that travel between downtown San Diego and Oceanside with a

regular Solana Beach stop part of each run. Del Mar's buses also return all

train passengers from the track to the station in order to meet all trains

heading north- or southbound.

As usual, Del Mar fans will be the beneficiaries of special promotions during

the meet. A beach towel will be given away on August 2, a Del Mar logo cap on

August 16, and a Del Mar resort shirt on August 24.

In addition, the track will continue to host its "Daybreak at Del Mar"

breakfasts on the weekends. From 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. each Saturday and Sunday,

fans can enjoy a hearty breakfast while watching the Thoroughbreds take their

morning exercise. There is no admission charge for the sessions, held at the

track's Clubhouse Terrace Restaurant overlooking the stretch.