El Don, Budget Surplus Lead Charge for Jones

Trainer Marty Jones will have two shots at the top prize if the $125,000 California Dreamin’ Handicap today at Del Mar remains intact.

Jones is scheduled to run contenders El Don and Budget Surplus in the 1 1/16 -mile turf race restricted to California breds.

Owned by breeder John Harris, Budget Surplus, a 5-year-old In Excess gelding, will be looking for his third win in a row. He went wire-to-wire in his first collaboration with apprentice jockey Martin Garcia on June 18 at Hollywood Park, then returned almost a month later to dead heat for the victory with Jackson Fire. Garcia will be aboard again this afternoon as Budget Surplus tries the Del Mar grass for the first time.

El Don, however, is the 8-5 favorite on Jeff Tufts’ morning line for the California Dreamin’. Owned by breeders Harris and Don Valpredo, the 5-year-old gelded son of Cee’s Tizzy has won half of his six starts on turf, including a win in an optional claimer last Aug. 7 in his only other start on the local grass. Alex Solis will ride El Don.

From the inside out, the rest of the field will be He’s The Rage, Super Strut, Cheroot, Jack’s Wild, Heated Rebel, Jet Iron and Charmvictor.

Race of the day: Malibu Mint, who became a Grade I winner when taking the Princess Rooney Handicap at 23-1 on July 15 at Calder, will make her Saratoga debut in the $150,000 Honorable Miss Handicap today. Josue Arce will ride the 4-year-old Malibu Moon filly for owner John Mulholland and trainer Jim Chapman in the Grade II at six furlongs. The Honorable Miss attracted five others, including Stormy Kiss, Ever Elusive and Grecian Lover.

One for the road: Blanton Forest shouldn’t miss with an alert break as she moves to the grass for her second start in the seventh race today at Ellis Park. Jesus Castanon will be aboard the 3-year-old Forest Camp filly for owner Brereton Jones and trainer Greg Foley in the $20,500 maiden affair at 5 1/2 furlongs. She finished third after breaking slowly, then rushing up to contest the pace in her bow on July 2 at Churchill Downs.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Monkey Face, Respected and Lady Gamer in the sixth, El Don in the seventh and Trick A Cat and Butterfly Dreams in the eighth.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 5/46. Money: (previous day/meet total): $28.40/$249.40. Total money bet: $238.