DEL MAR : Track Is Off for First Time Since ’82

For the first time since Sept. 8, 1982, Del Mar’s main track was something other than fast when the racing program began.

Overnight and morning rains left the track muddy for Wednesday’s first two races, before it was upgraded to good for the third. Before the ninth race, it was termed fast.

Nine years earlier, the track was muddy for the first race, then downgraded to slow for the rest of the card.

Regardless of the weather or track condition, the eighth race belongs to Corey Nakatani.

The jockey made it six victories in seven days in the feature race when he rode Number’s Game to an 11-1 upset in Wednesday’s $63,450 Fleet Treat Stakes.

Nakatani’s only loss in an eighth race was on Sunday and, at the wire, he thought he was the winner aboard Countus In in the second division of the Palomar Handicap. The photo finish camera said otherwise. Somethingmerry got up in the final jump to win by a head under Laffit Pincay.

Number’s Game, a 3-year-old daughter of Soy Numero Uno, had lost seven of her eight previous starts this year, but she was able to hold off Teresa Mc, a 7-2 shot. Trained by Brian Mayberry, Number’s Game, who had broken her maiden here last year, covered the seven furlongs in 1:23 3/5.

Teresa Mc, who had won three of her previous five races in Northern California, finished three-quarters of a length in front of Perky Slew. Then came Tiny Kristin, Alydar’s Valentine, Paperback Habit, Bountiful Native (the 5-2 favorite), Dragonetta and I’s On Deb.

Don’t look for David Flores, who was arrested by immigration officials Monday, to be riding soon.

According to the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Flores, 23, was in the country illegally and working illegally when he was taken into custody Monday afternoon. He met with the INS Tuesday in Los Angeles to apply for a work permit, which could take up to 60 days to be approved.

Flores, a native of Mexico, had the proper visa to allow him to work in this country, but it was canceled when he failed to have it properly documented at the American Consulate in Tijuana.

The regular rider of Hollywood Gold Cup and New England Classic winner Marquetry, Flores could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Mister Frisky, who nearly died last year, will make his first start since the 1990 Preakness in Friday’s eighth race, a $50,000 allowance at six furlongs.

Now trained by Joe Garcia, a former assistant to the late Laz Barrera, Mister Frisky was found to have a large abscess in his throat after finishing third in the Preakness, and he wasn’t expected to survive.

Mister Frisky, who has won 16 of 18 starts, including last year’s Santa Anita Derby, has trained well for his return and will be ridden by Gary Stevens. Also making his comeback in the race is Deposit Ticket, who won the Hollywood Juvenile last year for Wayne Lukas. The others entered were Burnt Hills, Honkytonk Blaze, Burn Annie and Cordero.

Headed by Farma Way and Festin, a field of eight is shaping up for the $1-million Pacific Classic on Aug. 10, the eighth leg of the American Championship Racing Series.

The other possibilities are Louis Cyphre, Best Pal, Itsallgreektome, Stalwart Charger, Roanoke and Asia. San Diego Handicap winner Twilight Agenda would have to be supplemented to the race for $30,000.

Stevens rode four winners Wednesday, including a 12-length romp on Mr. Integrity in the fifth race.

A promising 4-year-old son of Mr. Prospector, Mr. Integrity was fifth, beaten by eight lengths, at 8-5 in his debut on June 1 at Golden Gate Fields, but he won over maidens by 3 1/2 lengths on July 5 at Hollywood Park.

Trained by R.B. Hess Jr., Mr. Integrity shook off longshot Dirty Old Man after a half-mile Wednesday, then kept extending his advantage to win in 1:36 for the mile.

Stevens also won the first on Proud Gilly; the seventh on Campagnarde, who upset favored Sun Brandy in her first U.S. start, and the ninth on first-time starter Stan’s Hi View.

Horse Racing Notes

For the second day in a row, there were no perfect tickets in the Pick Six, so there will be a carryover for today of more than $235,000. . . . Corey Nakatani and Chris McCarron each rode two winners Wednesday. . . . Best Pal, who won three races on this track last year, worked an easy six furlongs in 1:16 Tuesday morning. . . . Hoping to make a comeback, 1990 Arlington Million winner Golden Pheasant worked five furlongs on the turf in 1:01 3/5 Monday morning.