DEL MAR : Mane Minister Will Turn to Turf

Trainer Paco Gonzalez and owners Trudy McCaffery and John Toffan hope Mane Minister doesn’t keep his streak going in Sunday’s $106,400 La Jolla Handicap.

After consecutive third-place finishes in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes, the Deputy Minister colt’s connections are hoping for a victory in his first race on turf.

In the second of Del Mar’s three-race grass series for 3-year-olds, Mane Minister is expected to be one of the favorites as he goes for his first victory since March 14.

After chasing Hansel, Strike The Gold and Dinard, he will have softer company in the 1 1/16-mile La Jolla.

Only five others were entered Friday--Soweto, who won an $80,000 claiming race and was purchased by trainer Robert Marshall; Nijinsky’s Prince, who was third at 41-1 in the first division of the Oceanside on opening day; and Oceanside also-rans Track Monarch, Persianalli and Quaglino.

Freshened since being beaten by three lengths in the Belmont Stakes, Mane Minister had two bullet workouts over the Hollywood Park grass, then went five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 over the Del Mar turf course Monday.

“It was just what I wanted for him,” Gonzalez said. “He really seems to like the turf. He’s ready to go.

“He always tries hard. He’s been training well and I think he’s going to run well.”

The gelded son of Kafu won the restricted La Puente at Santa Anita, then was third behind Whadjathink and Character in the Spotlight Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Hollywood Park.

His trainer, Marshall, has had success with some other high-priced claims--Solar Launch and Trebizond are prime examples--and Chris McCarron, who has been aboard for all three of Soweto’s victories in the United States, will ride Sunday.

Robyn Dancer, a disappointment in the Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash on July 20 at Laurel in Maryland, heads a field of eight in today’s $107,900 Bing Crosby Handicap at six furlongs.

Before finishing fifth in the DeFrancis, Robyn Dancer had won three in a row at Hollywood Park, topped by an 8 1/2-length victory in the Triple Bend Handicap. Laffit Pincay will ride the 120-pound high-weight for trainer Darrell Vienna.

Among Robyn Dancer’s opponents will be Thirty Slews, who will make his first start as a 4-year-old. Trained by Bob Baffert, the Slewpy gelding has had two exceptional local workouts--a 1:11 4/5 for six furlongs July 23, followed six days later by a 58 3/5 for five furlongs. Kent Desormeaux will ride Thirty Slews, who has three victories in five lifetime starts.

Others in the field are Bruho, who was second to Robyn Dancer in the Triple Bend, Black Jack Road, Tanker Port, Due To The King, and Zig N’ Zag.

Gary Stevens will be at Saratoga today to ride In Excess in the $250,000 Whitney Handicap at 1 1/8 miles.

Trainer Bruce Jackson’s 4-year-old will be seeking his third consecutive Grade I victory in New York. Previously, he won the Metropolitan Mile and the Suburban Handicap on July 4, where he set a Belmont Park record for 1 1/4 miles.

In Excess figures to be the odds-on favorite against a field that includes Silver Survivor, Chief Honcho, Killer Diller, Tricky Creek, Runaway Stream and Senator To Be.

Eddie Delahoussaye and Martin Pedroza also will have stakes engagements out of town. Delahoussaye will ride Olympio, the 126-pound high-weight, in the American Derby at Arlington International Racecourse and Pedroza will ride Landaluce winner Fluttery Danseur for trainer Brian Mayberry in Monmouth’s $200,000 Sorority Stakes.

In an earlier race on the card at Arlington, Unbridled, the 1990 Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, will race for the first time since bleeding in the Pimlico Special on May 11.

Horse Racing Notes

Marquetry and Exbourne, the stars of Bobby Frankel’s barn, both worked Friday morning. Marquetry, the Hollywood Gold Cup and New England Classic winner, went half a mile in 48 3/5, and Exbourne, who most recently won the Caesars International at Atlantic City, went three furlongs in 38 flat.