An Unusual Race at Del Mar

It’s not often the first race on a weekday card includes a pair of horses exiting graded stakes, but that’s the case this afternoon at Del Mar.

Bis Repetitas, who finished second in the Grade III Cinema Breeders’ Cup Handicap on June 29 at Hollywood Park, and Outta Here, who was in a dead heat for third in the Grade II Swaps on July 13 in Inglewood, are among five 3-year-olds entered in the opener.

Trained by Bobby Frankel for owner Ed Gann, Bis Repetitas was scratched from the Secretariat, a Grade I, at Arlington Park on Saturday, and could be sitting on his first U.S. win.

Making his sixth start in this country, the son of Red Ransom was beaten by less than a length by Just Wonder, who did run in the Secretariat, when 9-1. He cuts back an eighth of a mile today in the $63,000 optional claimer.

Co-owned and trained by Bill Currin, Outta Here earned most of his $546,572 bankroll when he won the fabled Delta Jackpot on Dec. 21 at Delta Downs. He was beaten by only a length in the Swaps, but there is a question about how good a race that was. During, the upset winner, went to Saratoga and finished last in the Jim Dandy.

Beyond Infinity, who was claimed by trainer Mike Mitchell in his last start, Marina Minister and Winning Stripes, who has a win at the meet over the turf, round out the field.

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Race of the day: Labamta Babe, who has won one of six starts since beating the ill-fated Siphonic in the 2002 Santa Catalina, will make his first start since Jan. 17 for Frankel and Gann in today’s third at Del Mar. The $70,000 optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles also attracted Truly A Judge, Jimmy Z, Gift Of The Eagle and Claiming Crown Jewel winner Daunting.

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One for the road: Shuffle N Deal is better than her last would indicate and the 3-year-old For Really filly could bounce back in a big way in today’s sixth at Sacramento in her first after being claimed for $6,250 by high-percentage trainer Don Mills. Chance Rollins will ride Shuffle N Deal.

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Exotically speaking: An exacta box in the fourth using Red Warrior, Tack Attack and Cotton Gin.

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Winners: Previous day/meet total: 1/57. Money: Previous day/meet total: $10/$330. Total money bet: $426.