A Baptism for Frankel Horse

Baptize, a graded stakes winner for trainer Bill Mott as a 3-year-old, will make his debut for Bobby Frankel in today’s seventh, a $68,000 optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar. The race is part of a pick six with a carry-over of $107,848.

Owned by Gary and Mary West, the Dynaformer horse won the Arlington Classic and the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Handicap in 2001, but has fallen on hard times.

He has won only one of seven since while racing both for Mott and H. James Bond.

Away since fading to sixth in an allowance race at Keeneland on April 19, Baptize will break from the inside in the field of six and be ridden by Patrick Valenzuela, one of many in contention to win Del Mar’s jockey title.

The sharpest horse in the small field is Soud. A 5-year-old Mr. Prospector horse trained by Neil Drysdale for Shadwell Farm LLC, he has won two of his last three. His only loss came when he was beaten by a head by Bayou The Moon on July 10 at Hollywood Park. Corey Nakatani will ride Soud, who was fifth at 3-1 in his only previous race over the Del Mar turf.

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Race of the day: The sixth at Saratoga, a six-furlong contest for 2-year-old maiden fillies, attracted some interesting rookies with top-notch pedigrees. One of the firsters is Home Court, a daughter of Storm Cat out of Jewel Princess. A $650,000 purchase last September at Keeneland by Alnoff Stable, Home Court is trained by Bond.

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One for the road: Cargo Ship is a debuting son of A.P. Jet facing a soft field of New York-bred maidens in the ninth at Saratoga. The $60,000 2-year-old purchase has been training at Finger Lakes, but it’s a positive sign when a winning trainer brings a horse from that track to Saratoga, Belmont Park or Aqueduct.

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Exotically speaking: A pick three using Young Pioneer and Zoolu Nights in the second, singling Slew of the Night in the third and using Devote, Desert Boom, Unleash The Power and Two Night Stand in the fourth.

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Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/45. Money: Previous day/meet total: $12/$261.20. Total money bet: $340.