Reputations On the Line

Two horses with reputations that exceed their accomplishments will be in action as Del Mar concludes the fourth of its seven-week season.

Easy Grades is the 6-5 favorite against four opponents in the second, a $60,000 allowance at one mile on the main track, then five races later, D’wildcat is the 7-5 choice in a field of five in a $68,000 optional claimer at one mile on the turf.

Best known for finishing second in the Santa Anita Derby--a weak prep for the Kentucky Derby evidenced by the way the top three finishers performed at Churchill Downs--Easy Grades is back on the dirt trying for his second lifetime victory.

Owned by Desperado Stables and trained by Ted H. West, the 3-year-old Honor Grades gelding has been second on four occasions and has been the beaten favorite three times.

His most recent disappointment came when he was second, losing by a head to Ridley on the Del Mar turf on July 26, at 3-10.

A $600,000 purchase more than two years ago by Fog City Stable, D’wildcat has won three times in 10 tries and has two stakes victories, but he’s never reached the heights some were predicting for him last year.

In fact, one of his stakes wins is extremely tainted. He was moved up to first in the Churchill Downs Handicap on the Kentucky Derby undercard on May 4 when Snow Ridge was disqualified because rider Mike Smith allegedly struck D’wildcat on the nose with his whip just before the wire. The widespread opinion was that no change should have been made.

Take that win away and the Forest Wildcat colt’s lone stakes score was Gulfstream Park’s Swale, a Grade III, more than 17 months ago. Trained by Bob Hess Jr., D’wildcat is the controlling speed in his turf debut today against Golden General, Gallant, Sir Alfred and recent winner Zanapour.

Race of the day: Fast-working firsters Lanzada’s Sonata and Hula Girl head a field of nine maiden fillies and mares racing 6 1/2 furlongs in today’s sixth at Del Mar.

Who’s hot: Rafael Becerra. The trainer was first or second with half of his first 16 starters at Del Mar.

Who’s not: The field in today’s eighth at Del Mar. The 10 fillies and mares are a combined 0-for-61.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Breathless and It’s Always Busy in the third, singling Hot Topic in the fourth and using all in the fifth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/47. Money: Previous day/meet total: $19.20/$287.80. Total money bet: $394.