THOROUGHBRED RACING : Strike The Gold Seeks ACRS Bonus in Iselin Handicap at Monmouth

Strike The Gold, who can clinch the $750,000 American Championship Racing Series bonus with a victory, was among 11 horses entered Wednesday morning for the $500,000 Philip H. Iselin Handicap at Monmouth Park.

The 1 1/8-mile Iselin, the penultimate race in the ACRS, will be simulcast at Del Mar on Saturday afternoon. Post time is 1:40 p.m. PDT, and the first live race at Del Mar is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.

Winner of the Pimlico Special and Nassau County Handicap before finishing second to Pleasant Tap in the Suburban, Strike The Gold is the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the Iselin, and he drew post position 10. Stablemate Loach also was entered and they will race coupled.

Others in the field, from the rail out, are Jolie’s Halo (Edgar Prado, 8-1), Fly So Free (Julie Krone, 3-1), Lost Mountain (Robbie Davis, 6-1), Out Of Place (Herbert McCauley, 10-1), Chief Honcho (Mike Smith, 5-1), Brave Adventure (Richard Ybarra), Digression (Angel Bravo, 20-1), Valley Crossing (Andrea Seefeldt, 15-1) and Honest Ensign (Chris McCarron, 15-1).

Strike The Gold, scheduled to leave for Monmouth Park this afternoon, worked a half-mile in 51 2/5 at Saratoga on Wednesday morning and five furlongs in 1:05 2/5.

“It was all I wanted,” trainer Nick Zito said. “Everything is going OK. We’re going for the bonus.”

Paired with Krone for the first time in an allowance race June 28 at Belmont Park, Fly So Free ended an 11-month losing streak with a two-length victory at 2-5 odds.

“It’s kind of obvious we’re trying to get him to relax a little more early,” Krone said. “Being in front late would be much nicer. I’m very much looking forward to coming down (to Monmouth). When I worked him there, he enjoyed breaking and going into a turn. He’s such a great athlete and he can give you a good half-mile run and be very tactical.”

The ACRS will conclude with the $1-million Pacific Classic on Aug. 30 at Del Mar.

With Gary Stevens committed to ride Quest For Fame in the $250,000 Sword Dancer at Saratoga, Chris McCarron has picked up the mount on Gilded Time in the $200,000 Sapling the same day at Monmouth Park.

A 2-year-old son of Timeless Moment, Gilded Time was impressive in his debut at Hollywood Park, overcoming a horrible start to win by four lengths.

Blonde Fever made it four victories in her last five starts with a two-length win over Forest Haven in the $62,200 Fleet Treat Stakes on Wednesday at Del Mar.

The 3-year-old Flying Paster filly and 8-5 second choice, claimed by trainer Jacque Fulton for $40,000 on May 14, sat several lengths off the fast pace set by even-money favorite Knight Prospector, then rallied in the stretch and went to win in 1:22 1/5 for the seven furlongs.

Blonde Fever, originally trained by Wayne Lukas, was purchased privately by Bill Spawr after she broke her maiden for $32,000 April 24 at Santa Anita. She was claimed by Fulton at Hollywood Park when she won by 5 1/2 lengths.

In three starts for Fulton, the California-bred has two wins and a second, and Wednesday’s victory was the first stakes win for a female trainer at Del Mar since Cassandra McGill saddled Satin Ribera in the 1981 Encinitas Handicap.

Seeking her fourth consecutive win, Knight Prospector faded badly in the stretch in her first start for new trainer Chuck Marikian. Knight Prospector’s former trainer, Roger Stein, had been quoted in Wednesday’s Daily Racing Form as saying he wanted to give the filly a rest, but owners Ted Gaswirth and Jim Auerbach wanted to run her in the Fleet Treat. Hence, the barn switch.

“She needs three months off. She’s not the soundest horse and she’s better at six furlongs,” Stein told the Daily Racing Form.

Bel’s Starlet and Heart Of Joy, both more effective on turf, are the 8-5 favorite for the $60,000 Fantastic Girl at seven furlongs on the main track.

Coupled as the Golden Eagle Farm-owned entry, Bel’s Starlet will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux and McCarron will ride Heart Of Joy, a beaten favorite in her last start at Hollywood Park.

Brought To Mind, who disappointed on the grass in the Matinee at Hollywood Park, is the 2-1 second choice. Others in the Fantastic Girl are Number’s Game, Mama Simba, Perky Slew, Nice Assay and Bountiful Native.

Tight Spot, scheduled to make his next start in the Eddie Read Handicap on Aug. 16, worked seven furlongs on grass in 1:29 1/5 Wednesday morning.

Flawlessly, who will have another match with Kostroma in the Ramona Handicap on Aug. 15, and Golden Pheasant also worked on the turf. Flawlessly went a mile in 1:41 2/5; Golden Pheasant was clocked in 1:43.

Desormeaux, Nakatani and Pat Valenzuela each won twice Wednesday.