Rare Feat Is Within Reach

Northern Quest will try to do something only one other horse has been able to do in the first 61 runnings of the Del Mar Handicap. A 6-year-old bred in France, owned by Charles and Audrey Kenis’ 3+U Stable and trained by Bobby Frankel, Northern Quest is the defending champion in the Grade II, having defeated Perssonet, Alvo Certo and five others a year ago. The only other thoroughbred to win the Del Mar Handicap in consecutive years is Arrogate, who won in 1955-56. Frankly and How Now were also two-time winners of the race, but they did not do it in successive years. The former won in 1948 and ’50 while How Now won in 1957 and again in 1960. If Frankel doesn’t win with Northern Quest, he has two other chances to capture the 11-furlong handicap. He will also send out Super Quercus, who is also owned by 3+U, and Timboroa, who finished fourth as the 11-10 favorite in last month’s Eddie Read Handicap. Trainer Richard Mandella, who has never won the Del Mar Handicap, has two entrants--Cagney and Kudos. A Brazilian-bred, Cagney picked up his first victory in this country in the Escondido Handicap, which is also run at 1 3/8 miles on the turf, on Aug. 1 while Kudos has won four of five since being gelded. The field is completed by Falcon Flight, the winner of the Stars and Stripes Breeders’ Cup Handicap nearly two months ago at Arlington Park, and longshot Sumati.

Race of the day: All eyes will be on Sacramento for the $10,000 California State Fair Open Mule Challenge Stakes because it will once again bring together Black Ruby and Taz. The sport’s highest-earning mule, Black Ruby suffered a rare defeat when she last met Taz. She lost by a neck at Santa Rosa on Aug. 5. It ended a seven-race win streak this year and was only her sixth loss in 43 starts. She rebounded with an easy victory at Ferndale six days ago. Taz, who has been 1-2 in 38 of 52, will be looking for his third consecutive win today. He won at Sacramento on Wednesday.

Who’s hot: Kent Desormeaux. The rider has picked it up of late and, entering Friday, had moved into the top five in the standings with 17 victories.

Who’s not: Trainers who complain about losing their horses in claiming races. Here’s a thought: If you have any worries about losing them, don’t run them in claiming races. Problem solved.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Pennysenyen and Peter’s Pond in the sixth, singling Kudos in the seventh and J Vivendi, Dena’s Diamond, Follow My Heineken and The Heebster in the eighth.