Compelling Sound Favored in Feature

Compelling Sound, whose last victory came when he upset Best Pal in the 1991 Silver Screen Handicap, is the 3-1 favorite for today’s $200,000 Del Mar Budweiser Breeders’ Cup at one mile on the main track.

Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Moss and trained by Charlie Whittingham, Compelling Sound suffered a broken knee while finishing third in the Swaps Stakes last year, came back to run sixth in an allowance race March 27, then was discovered to have a breathing problem.

Surgery was performed, and the 4-year-old Seattle Slew colt returned to run second, beaten by a head, by Gogarty in a turf race on Aug. 19. Gary Stevens will again ride Compelling Sound, who has two victories in six starts on the dirt.

Ibero, the 7-2 second choice, will try to end a six-race losing streak. Most recently, he was second at 3-2 odds in the Longacres Mile, beaten by a half-length by Bolulight. Alex Solis will ride for trainer Ron McAnally.

From the rail out, the rest of the field includes Sir Beaufort (Chris McCarron, 8-1), Regal Groom (Laffit Pincay, 4-1), Reign Road (David Flores, 15-1), Charmonnier (Rafael Meza, 8-1), Letthebighossroll (Corey Nakatani, 6-1), Bucking Bird (Martin Pedroza, 15-1), Repriced (Pat Valenzuela, 15-1) and Blacksburg (Desormeaux, 15-1).