This Swinger Likes the Turf

Ladies Din recently returned to training after having been retired earlier this year and is the last horse to have swept Del Mar’s three-race turf series for 3-year-olds.

Running for trainer Julio Canani and owners Terry Lanni, Bernie Schiappa and Mike Sloan in 1998, the gelded son of Din’s Dancer won a division of the Oceanside Stakes before returning to win the La Jolla Handicap and Del Mar Derby.

Only Sweet Return and Devious Boy have a chance to match the feat this year, each having won a division of the Oceanside on opening day, but neither is expected to be favored in today’s La Jolla.

Senor Swinger, a son of El Prado owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis and trained by Bob Baffert, is the likely choice in the Grade III at 1 1/16 miles.

Purchased privately earlier this year, Senor Swinger showed in the Wood Memorial and Preakness that he wasn’t up to running with the best of his class on dirt, but he has found a home on the turf.

He was impressive in winning two stakes at Churchill Downs.

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Race of the day: Fourth in all four of his starts in 2003, Volponi, winner of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, will be ridden by Jerry Bailey for the first time in today’s $300,000 Saratoga Breeders’ Cup Handicap.

The field for the 1 1/4-mile race, a Grade II, also includes Harlan’s Holiday, State Shinto, Iron Deputy and Blue Boat.

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One for the road: Just Wonder is improving for trainer Laura De Seroux and looked good winning the Cinema Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Hollywood Park. He seems ready to step up in today’s $400,000 Secretariat at Arlington Park.

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Exotically speaking: A pick three using Fly To The Lake, Hemet Thought and Macward in the third, singling Saintly Persuasion in the fourth and using De Valmont, Fit For A King, Sporting Lad, Bay Town Boy and Mr Toad in the fifth.

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