Dynever, Toccet Head Field

When officials at Philadelphia Park raised the purse of the Pennsylvania Derby from $500,000 to $750,000, they were hopeful of attracting Peace Rules and maybe even Funny Cide to their Grade III race.

Well, Peace Rules wound up pinch-hitting for Empire Maker in the Travers and finished second, and Funny Cide is still on the bench and it remains unclear where the winner of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness will surface.

In their absence, Philadelphia Park is left with Dynever, the recent runner-up in the West Virginia Derby, and Toccet, whose biggest fans are his owner, Daniel Borislow, and trainer, John Scanlan.

Eight others entered the Pennsylvania Derby, which is run at 1 1/8 miles, but Dynever and Toccet will attract most of the attention on the tote board.

Trained by Christophe Clement for owners Peter Karches and Catherine Wills, Dynever has won three of six, including the $250,000 Aventura at Gulfstream Park and the Lone Star Derby.

Race of the day: Captain Squire, who was second to shipper Beau’s Town in the Bing Crosby Handicap earlier in the meet, will stretch out to a mile for trainer Jeff Mullins in today’s $250,000 Del Mar Breeders’ Cup Handicap. Alex Solis will ride Captain Squire against Seattle Shamus, Reba’s Gold, Taste Of Paradise, Crafty C.T., Joey Franco and Grey Memo.

One for the road: Q One is bred for speed being by Elusive Quality and he debuts in today’s seventh at Saratoga, a $45,000 maiden race for 2-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs, for a good first-out trainer (Patrick Biancone). The race is part of a pick six with a carry-over of more than $390,000 and a mandatory payout because it’s the final day of the meet.

Exotically speaking: A pick three singling Jackette in the second, using Church Editor, Sunshine Allie and Madam Bahri in the third and Dixie High and Resplendency in the fourth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/84. Money: Previous day/meet total: $16.80/$479.40. Total money bet: $600.