DEL MAR : Slew Of Damascus Heads Escondido Field

Slew Of Damascus, who set a Del Mar record for a mile on turf in the Wickerr Handicap on July 29, heads the field for today’s 1 3/8-mile Escondido Handicap, the first of four stakes races on the weekend card.

Ridden by Corey Nakatani, Slew Of Damascus ran the mile in 1:34 to win the Wickerr by 3 1/2 lengths. Nakatani will be aboard again today.

The second stakes on today’s card is the Sorrento Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs. Both races have $75,000 purses.

Sunday’s stakes, both for $100,000, are the Rancho Bernardo Breeders’ Cup Handicap for older fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs and the La Jolla Handicap for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on grass.

Slew Of Damascus, carrying 117 pounds, will have a rematch with Myrakalu, the French horse who finished second in the Wickerr. Myrakalu will be carrying 117 pounds, including Laffit Pincay.

Top-weighted will be Know Heights, at 118 pounds, including Kent Desormeaux. The Irish-born Know Heights, who won eight of 12 races in France, will be making his U.S. debut.

Adding to the international flavor of the Escondido are Australia’s Grooming, Britain’s Profusion and France’s Luazur, all of whom have only one previous race in this country.

Rhapsodic, winner of the Landaluce Stakes at Hollywood Park on July 10, is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the Sorrento. She will carry 121 pounds, including Eddie Delahoussaye. Becky’s Appeal, ridden by Gary Stevens, finished third in the Landaluce and will carry 115 pounds.

Trainer Brian Mayberry, who saddles Rhapsodic, also has Noassemblyrequired, ridden by Corey Black. She was a winner in her only start, in a maiden special weight race.