On Surface, It’s a Good Idea

In years past, horses whose preference was sprinting on grass were out of luck once Hollywood Park’s spring-summer meet ended. There were no races for them at Del Mar and Fairplex Park never will have a turf course, so those horses would have to wait until Oak Tree started in the fall.

No more. Although they probably won’t be run in abundance, Del Mar will offer sprints on the turf this year, beginning with a five-furlong contest today.

The $64,000 optional claimer, which as the second race isn’t part of a pick six with a carry-over of $165,313, attracted only five entrants, topped by 14-time winner F J’s Pace.

Owned by Ren-Mar Thoroughbreds and trained by Doug O’Neill, who is fresh off a training title at Hollywood Park, F J’s Pace will be favored to win for the fourth time in 2003.

His challengers include Ride And Shine, who is winless in five races on the turf; Red Sky’s, who is 0 for 4 on the grass; Estambul, who is making his first start in the U.S. for trainer Darrell Vienna after winning six of 19 in Argentina, and With Iris.

A 6-year-old gelding owned by a partnership and trained by Eddie Truman, With Iris is the only member of the field with turf experience at Del Mar. He had a second in one of his two races a couple of years back.

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Race of the day: Flushing Meadows, who was impressive beating maidens in his first start at Hollywood Park on June 22, is among seven 2-year-olds scheduled to go in the $150,000 Sanford at Saratoga.

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One for the road: Refax debuts for leading trainer Wayne Catalano after a claim in today’s fourth at Arlington Park. The 3-year-old filly switches to the main track; both of her victories have come on the dirt.

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Exotically speaking: A pick three using Crafty Madness, Golden K K and Sunlit Moon in the sixth, Groom On The Run, Justice Minister and Prairie Predator in the seventh and singling Ivan Motley in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/2. Money: Previous day/meet total: $9.40/$9.40. Total money bet: $18.