RACING NOTES : Trainer Lewis Mourns Loss of Promising 2-Year-Old

Trainer Craig Lewis is mourning the loss of promising 2-year-old colt Liberating, who was put down Sunday at Del Mar after breaking a hind leg in the morning.

“He cost $300,000 at the 2-year-old sale but he was worth a million,” Lewis said. “He was vastly superior to Music Merci, Rob an Plunder and Mountain Ghost, all 2-year-olds I trained. He had more talent but never got a chance to show it.”

Liberating finished second to Deposit Ticket in his debut at Hollywood Park and third to Xray and Mr. Melair on opening day July 25 at Del Mar. Owned by Wheelman Stables Inc., the son of Kris S and Anytime Ms was insured.

Eclipse Award winner Steinlen and Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Prized have been assigned co-high weight of 125 pounds for the $250,000-added Eddie Read Handicap on Sunday at Del Mar.

The Grade I test will be run at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

John Henry Handicap winner Golden Pheasant was next in the weights at 122, followed by American Handicap winner Classic Fame at 119. Defending champion Saratoga Passage was pegged at 116.

The complete list of weights: Prized, 125; Companion, 114; Steinlen, 125; Nediym, 114; Golden Pheasant, 122; Shining Steel, 114; Classic Fame, 119; Shotiche, 114; Mohamed Abdu, 117; Leger Cat, 113; Notorious Pleasure, 117; Royal Reach, 113; Saratoga Passage, 116; Fly Till Dawn, 111; Pleasant Variety, 115; Soft Machine, 110, and Colway Rally, 114.

Unbeaten Theresa’s Pleasure breezed to a convincing win over eight other 2-year-old fillies Monday night at Los Alamitos in the $36,940 Proud Sister Stakes.

The running time for the 4 1/2-furlong race was :49 3/5, which broke the track standard for the distance by four-fifths of a second.

For jockey Julio Garcia, the win was his seventh from only 14 mounts through the first seven nights of the Orange County Racing Fair.

The win was worth $21,190 to Theresa’s Pleasure, which as the public choice returned $5.20, $3.80 and $3.60. La Fresa paid $13.20 and $10.40, while Skobiklova returned $3.80. (Charts, Section C.)