El Corredor Tries to Repeat BOB MIESZERSKI

Trainer Bob Baffert may salve some of the sting of losing Point Given to retirement with another stakes win this afternoon. El Corredor, the 3-5 favorite on the morning line, will try to defend his title in the $250,000 Del Mar Breeders’ Cup Handicap. A Grade II at a flat mile, the race attracted six others--Jorrocks was entered, but scratched Saturday morning--but if El Corredor runs his race, the rest are running for second money of $50,000. A 4-year-old son of Mr. Greeley owned by Hal Earnhardt, El Corredor has had a limited career because of problems with his feet, but when he runs, he fires. The Kentucky-bred colt has won six of eight, and the only time he was worse than second was when he finished fourth in his debut on Sept. 5, 1999. That, in fact, was his only defeat at Del Mar. Since then at the beach, he has won an optional claimer, the Del Mar BC Handicap and last month’s Pat O’Brien Handicap. Budroyale, making his second start of the year, is the 3-1 second choice. The field is completed by Smile Again, Performing Magic, Figlio Mio and Bright Valour.

Race of the day: The sixth is a 5 1/2-furlong race for 2-year-old maidens that drew a full field of 12, nine of which are first-time starters. The colt to beat is Requesto, a Baffert-trained son of Smoke Glacken who was second in his initial start on Aug. 19. The firsters include Mountain Rage, another Baffert, the Howard Zucker-trained Bringem Jung, Delong, a son of Editor’s Note trained by Craig Dollase, Hot War, an In Excess colt trained by Warren Stute, and Al Ash Hab, a $720,000 yearling purchase debuting for Eoin Harty.

Who’s hot: The Del Mar jockeys’ race between Alex Solis and Laffit Pincay Jr. Heading into Saturday, Solis held a 33-30 lead over Pincay in the standings. Their race could go to the final day on Wednesday--these same riders took it to the final day at Hollywood Park, where Pincay won the title.

Who’s not: The field in today’s fifth at Sacramento. Bad races have been the norm at this county fair. This contest for $8,000 maidens attracted nine horses who are a combined 0 for 96.

Exotically speaking: An exacta box in the eighth using De Witt, Count V Ullmann and Lytle Creek.