Mitchell Is Looking to Claim Another ‘Cap

The last two years, trainer Mike Mitchell won the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap with a recent claim.

Leprechaun Kid, who had been taken for $80,000 about a month before the Grade II stakes race, went wire to wire at 8-1 in 2005 and Star Over The Bay won in similar fashion 12 months earlier.

Mitchell will be trying to repeat the feat again when he sends longshot Symphony Sid against nine others in the Del Mar Handicap, which is run at 1 3/8 miles on turf.

Claimed for $50,000 by Mitchell for a partnership on July 19, Symphony Sid, a 6-year-old son of Unbridled, will be looking for his third win in nine starts on the grass in his first attempt beyond nine furlongs.

Apprentice Martin Garcia will ride Symphony Sid, who hasn’t won since April 10, 2005, in an optional claimer on the Bay Meadows lawn.

The horses to beat in the Del Mar Handicap are Runaway Dancer, who has won three of four on the Del Mar turf, and San Juan Capistrano and Sunset winner T.H. Approval.

Leprechaun Kid, a 7-year-old gray gelding who is winless in four starts since his upset in the Del Mar Handicap, will be in action earlier in the card. He is one of seven scheduled to go 1 1/8 miles on turf in the second race, a $68,000 optional claimer. Jon Court will ride the seven-time winner for Mitchell and a partnership.

Race of the day: Dubai Escapade, who finished sixth as the 3-10 choice in her last start in the Princess Rooney Handicap on July 15 at Calder in Miami, will make her Saratoga debut today in the $250,000 Ballerina Breeders’ Cup.

Edgar Prado will ride the 4-year-old Awesome Again filly, who has won four of five in the U.S., for Darley Stable and trainer Eoin Harty in the Grade I stakes race at seven furlongs.

One for the road: River Song could have the right style in a race loaded with front-runners and could win from behind in the eighth race today at Golden Gate Fields. Chad Schvaneveldt will ride the 3-year-old Siphon filly for owner Bob Bone and trainer Art Sherman in the $31,000 allowance at six furlongs. In her last appearance, River Song was second to Catch My Fancy in the Fairfield at Solano on July 22.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Key Of Solomon in the second; Crowned Dancer, Britt’s Jules and Cinema Star in the third; and Minimite, Broad Try and Tizthen in the fourth.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 3/93. Money: (previous day/meet total): $24.20/$529.40. Total money bet: $580.