Rateau Makes Del Mar Debut

After needing five starts to earn his maiden win, Rateau will try a new game as he seeks his second victory in a row in the seventh race today at Del Mar.

A son of Rahy owned by breeders Jerry and Ann Moss and trained by Richard Mandella, Rateau won as the 2-1 favorite going 5 1/2 furlongs on the Hollywood Park turf course on July 9. This victory followed three losses in which he was never higher than 3-1.

In his Del Mar debut, Rateau will attempt to stretch his speed 1 1/8 miles against nine opponents in the $63,000 optional claimer for 3-year-olds. The race is part of a pick six with a carry-over of $138,861. Victor Espinoza, who rode the chestnut to his win, has the call again this afternoon in a spot where Rateau should be able to make the lead by himself.

Like Rateau, Unrivaled Song also is a recent maiden winner, but his victory came at today’s distance. The Fusaichi Pegasus gelding broke his maiden in his debut at nine furlongs on July 1 in Inglewood, scoring by 1 1/4 lengths despite a slow start.

The rest of the field includes Ready More, a shipper from Calder, Parkhimonbroadway, Sydney Again, Presidential Cause, Hit It Skip, Film Fortune, Add Heat and Tri Set Slew.

Mandella also trains Presidential Cause, a son of Giant’s Causeway who broke his maiden going 1 1/16 miles on this course July 23. Tyler Baze will ride for Malibu Farm LLC.

Race of the day: Gold And Roses, who finished second to Commentator in the Mugatea on July 12 at Belmont Park, heads a field of five New York breds in the $70,000 John Morrissey today at Saratoga. Owned by Henry Gregory and trained by Tom Bush, Gold And Roses, a 4-year-old Gold Token gelding, will be looking for his seventh win in 23 starts in the 6 1/2 -furlong race. Garrett Gomez will ride versus Big Apple Daddy, Casper Peterson, Mt. Majesty and Just In Fun.

One for the road: Always A Player likes the track at Ferndale and can wire his opponents in the fifth race today on the opening day card at the Humboldt County Fair. David Fowler-Wright will ride the 7-year-old Always A Classic gelding, who is two for five at Ferndale, in the $3,200 claimer at five furlongs.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Looking Forward and Royal Cherry in the fifth, Hybird Diablo, Julep Cup and Tootsie’s Flame in the sixth and Unrivaled Song and Rateau in the seventh.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 1/56. Money: (previous day/meet total): $4/$303.40. Total money bet: $324.