Willow O Wisp Seeks Stakes Win

With a little luck, Willow O Wisp would be unbeaten in four turf starts in California for trainer Vladimir Cerin.

The 3-year-old Misnomer gelding has won three of those races and was beaten a head by Osidy in his only defeat, in the Will Rogers on May 28 at Hollywood Park.

The Florida-bred, who won one of seven starts at Calder before heading west, will try for his second stakes win of the Del Mar meet in the $400,000 Del Mar Derby late this afternoon.

Following his two-length victory in the Cinema Breeders’ Cup Handicap on June 26 in Inglewood, Willow O Wisp won by a head as the 7-5 favorite in the La Jolla Handicap, out-finishing Juliesugardaddy and the previously unbeaten El Roblar, who is also participating in the 1 1/8 -mile Derby.

El Roblar, a son of former Breeders’ Cup Mile winner War Chant, is one of two Richard Mandella is scheduled to run in the Grade II. The Hall of Fame trainer will also send out Osidy.

The large field also includes High Limit, who will make his second start on the grass for trainer Bobby Frankel. In his first appearance on turf, High Limit was fourth in the Hall of Fame on Aug. 8 at Saratoga.

Race of the day: Sun King, who was last seen finishing second to Roman Ruler in the Haskell Invitational Handicap on Aug. 7 at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., heads a field of 14 3-year-olds in today’s $750,000 Pennsylvania Derby at Philadelphia Park. Rafael Bejarano will ride the son of Charismatic in the Grade II at 1 1/8 miles.

One for the road: Love Match has improved considerably since joining the barn of trainer John Kimmel and looks like lone speed in the $100,000 Glens Falls Handicap today at Saratoga. Javier Castellano, who won five races Saturday, will ride the 5-year-old Partner’s Love mare in the Grade III at 1 3/8 miles on turf. The Glens Falls is the eighth race on the closing-day card and is part of a pick six with a carry-over of more than $98,000.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Haka Girl, Baltic Dip, Vatchesvendetta and Great Opinions in the fifth; Truly A Judge in the sixth; and Hitchin and Quality Stuff in the seventh.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/101. Money: Previous day/meet total: $14.20/$600.60 Total money bet: $704.