Is Another Surprise in Store at Del Mar?

For many handicappers, the most improbable winner of 2004 on the local circuit was T.A. Thomas Alan.

A gelded son of Fabulous Champ owned and bred in California by Gordon Severson, T.A. Thomas Alan finished no better than fourth in his first five starts and was beaten by a combined 73 1/2 lengths.

No wonder he was 85-1 when trying the turf for the second time in a field of winners last Dec. 1 at Hollywood Park. Under veteran jockey Robert Torres, T.A. Thomas Alan won by a head for trainer Tony Locke.

Subsequent efforts by the bay have shown just how unlikely that win was. He hasn’t come close in five races since, losing by a combined 48 1/2 lengths. His best finish was a fourth on July 17 at the scene of his shocker.

Listed at 30-1 on Jeff Tufts’ morning line, T.A. Thomas Alan is back to give it another shot in today’s sixth at Del Mar. He is one of eight set to go five furlongs on the grass in the $56,000 allowance.

The 9-5 favorite in the race is El Sevillano, who finished third behind Greg’s Gold in his U.S. debut on the main track on June 11 in Inglewood. Greg’s Gold returned to win last weekend’s Bing Crosby Handicap as an 8-1 outsider.

Owned by a partnership and trained by Adam Kitchingman, El Sevillano is winless in two starts on the turf, but was second in a Group 1 in Argentina last Oct. 9.

Race of the day: Ebony Breeze, who missed by a nose in the Honorable Miss Handicap in 2004, leads a field of eight fillies and mares in this year’s renewal of the Grade II stakes race today at Saratoga. Jerry Bailey will ride the 5-year-old Belong To Me mare for George Steinbrenner’s Kinsman Stable and trainer Bill Mott in the six-furlong Honorable Miss. Other contenders include Forest Music, High Peaks, Fortress Hill and Bank Audit.

One for the road: Devil’s Preacher hails from a stable (George Weaver) that wins quite often with first-time starters and the son of Pulpit can score at first asking in today’s fourth at Saratoga. Javier Castellano will ride the 2-year-old for owner RC Hill Stable in the $46,000 maiden contest at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Golivewithuky in the fourth, Sabalucious and Jack’s Silver in the fifth and El Sevillano, Trail Mix, Cyber City Slew and General Antonio in the sixth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/41. Money: Previous day/meet total: $12.20/$238.20. Total money bet: $240.