Blackdoun Goes for a Sweep

For the second time in seven years, trainer Julio Canani will try to complete an Oceanside Stakes-La Jolla Handicap-Del Mar Derby sweep when he sends out Blackdoun in the $400,000 Derby this afternoon.

Successful in the same three races for 3-year-old turf specialists with Ladies Din in 1998, Canani will watch Blackdoun, a French-bred son of Verglas, take on Semi Lost, Sujimoto and seven others in the Grade II at 1 1/8 miles.

A winner of three of 11 in France, Blackdoun won his division of the Oceanside by 2 1/2 lengths in his first start in the U.S. on July 21, then overcame trouble to win the La Jolla by three-quarters of a length about three weeks later.

Semi Lost, a gelded son of Lost Soldier, has found a home on the grass for the Desperado Stables Inc., and Bob Bone and trainer Jeff Mullins. He has been one-two in all four of his races on the grass, while Sujimoto finished third in the La Jolla in his U.S. debut for Amerman Racing LLC and trainer Bobby Frankel.

Race of the day: Tapit, who hasn’t been out since he finished ninth in the Kentucky Derby on May 1, is among a dozen 3-year-olds scheduled to run 1 1/8 miles in today’s $750,000 Pennsylvania Derby at Philadelphia Park.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Cash In The Bank, Jack’s Kid and Buck Tuddy Buck in the third, Cleft in the fourth, and Ultimato, Drake’s Victory, Legal Logic and Rush Country in the fifth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/108. Money: Previous day/meet total: $15.60/$603.60. Total money bet: $702.