They’ll Try to Go the Distance

The third week of Del Mar begins with a better-than-average weekday program. Several of the races have large fields and the stakes race--the $75,000 Escondido Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on the turf--looks to be competitive. A preview for the Del Mar Handicap later in the meet, the Escondido attracted a field of seven and only two of the entrants--Shelter Cove and Kim Loves Bucky--appear without much chance. Alvo Certo, an 8-year-old Brazilian-bred, is the defending champion in the Escondido, having gone gate-to-wire last year for trainer A.C. Avila. The horse finished sixth in a field of seven in his comeback race on July 21 in what was a tune-up for this race. He will try to win in the same fashion he did in 2000 under jockey Omar Berrio. The other main contenders are Casino King, who has two victories on the Del Mar turf, Cagney, who will be trying 11 furlongs for the first time in his career and has the hot combo of jockey Alex Solis and trainer Richard Mandella behind him, and Devon Deputy, who was second in two Grade II races at Santa Anita. Longshot Continental Red completes the field.

Race of the day: Actually, the final six races on the card will carry a lot of interest because there is a Pick Six carryover of more than $114,232, thanks primarily to Dyna King’s $122.60 upset in Monday’s finale. Those looking for a possible single could do worse than try Irguns Angel, who could take her field all the way in the fifth, a 6 1/2 furlong allowance. Three of the six races in the sequence are for maidens, so good luck.

Who’s hot: Craig Lewis. The trainer won two races Monday. A horrible call by the stewards gave Lewis his second victory when Rebuild Trust was moved to first after the disqualification of Revillew Slew. It was the second Del Mar in a row where Lewis has benefited from a decision by the stewards. On Aug. 3, 2000, The Station, a 2-year-old he trained, was moved to first after daylight winner Mr Freckles was disqualified.

Who’s not: The Del Mar stewards. The decision to disqualify Revillew Slew was, pure and simple, wrong. Jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr. and Revillew Slew maintained a straight course through the stretch. If any horse deserved to have its number taken down, it was runner-up Rebuild Trust. Instead of being placed behind Lunar Surprise, the horse that was forced to take up when ‘Trust drifted out nearing the wire, the gray, who blew a 2 1/2-length lead in the final eighth of a mile, backed into a victory she did not deserve.

Exotically speaking: We’ll play a pick three using Rufaro, Mountian Style, Delavallade and Zori in the fourth, singling Irguns Angel in the fifth and using Hurricane Grant, Trevor’s Lucky One and Sure Man in the sixth.