Expect a Roaring Start

What are arguably the two most anticipated race meets of the year begin today.

Four hours after Saratoga begins its 36-day run at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Del Mar kicks off its seven-week season.

Some things never change by the beach. As usual, the first race is a route, meaning the race will start in front of the grandstand and there will be a roar from the crowd when track announcer Trevor Denman sends the field of $20,000 3-year-olds on its way.

The second race is on the turf--that also has become a tradition--and the third is a maiden sprint for 2-year-olds.

The Oceanside Stakes again will be run in two divisions. The first prep for the $300,000 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 7, the Oceanside, which is run at one mile on the turf, has been run in divisions every year since 1989.

Mountain Rage, a winner of three consecutive turf stakes during the winter and spring at Santa Anita, heads the stronger first division. Trained by Bob Baffert, who has led the standings five consecutive years at Del Mar, Mountain Rage will be favored against a field that includes Rock Opera and Johar.

In the second division, Mutinyonthebounty, a winner of two of four in Ireland, England and France, will make his U.S. debut for trainer Beau Greely.

Saratoga will start its meet with a 10-race card. The main event is the $150,000 Schuylerville Stakes, a Grade II at six furlongs for 2-year-old fillies.

Race of the day: Full fields are the norm at Del Mar and the second is a particularly contentious event for older claimers at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Who’s hot: Baffert. In the last five Del Mar meets, he has won 133 races. He has won the Del Mar Futurity six years in a row.

Who’s not: A.C. Avila. The trainer, who was winless at Hollywood Park, will try to get off to a better start at Del Mar when he sends out Great Alarm in the first and Pick Of The Valley in the fourth.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Taormina and California Lite in the fourth, singling Mountain Rage in the fifth and using A Touch Of Grey, My Friend Lumpy, Kinston and Window B. in the sixth.

Winners: Final for Hollywood Park: 3/169. Money: Previous day/meet total: $14.20/$954.80. Total money bet: $1,120.