Joey Franco Goes for Grade

Seven 3-year-olds entered the $75,000 El Cajon Stakes today at Del Mar, but most of the attention will be focused on two of them.

Joey Franco, the 2-1 favorite on Jeff Tufts’ morning line, and 5-2 second choice Easy Grades are each coming off easy victories as they move into the restricted stakes.

Owned and bred by Jerry Frankel and trained by Dave Hofmans, Joey Franco, a son of Avenue Of Flags, has won three in a row after finishing third in his debut in the California Breeders’ Championship Stakes.

Easy Grades, owned by Desperado Stables and trained by Ted H. West, earned his second career victory against a suspect field on Aug. 19.

With Kent Desormeaux staying with Joey Franco, Mike Smith will ride Easy Grades for the first time today. Smith will be the gelding’s seventh jockey.

Race of the day: Old pro Say Florida Sandy heads the field in the $75,000 General Douglas MacArthur Handicap, the opening-day feature of Belmont Park’s fall meet.

Who’s hot: Todd Pletcher. The trainer begins Belmont Park having won the Saratoga training title, edging Bill Mott, 20-19.

Who’s not: Chance Rollins and Brice Blanc. Through the first six weeks of the Del Mar meet, the two jockeys were a combined four for 114.

Exotically speaking: A pick three singling Albatros in the second, using Producer, Countless Moment, Tribal Trick and Pavlosk in the third and Potra Girl and Silver Secret in the fourth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/76. Money: Previous day/meet total: $13/$436.40. Total money bet: $650.