Stakes Races Highlight Del Mar’s Closing-Day Card

There are two stakes races on the closing-day card at Del Mar in addition to the main event, the $250,000 Del Mar Futurity.

The first is the $85,000 Pirate’s Bounty Handicap at six furlongs, and the other is the $85,000 CERF Handicap at the same distance for older fillies and mares.

In the Pirate’s Bounty, Captain Squire will try for his second victory of the meet and third in five tries at Del Mar. He will face eight opponents in today’s race.

Owned by a partnership and trained by Jeff Mullins, Captain Squire, a 7-year-old Flying Chevron gelding, scored by 1 1/2 lengths as the 1-2 favorite in an optional claimer July 31.

He will shorten up an eighth of a mile today as he aims for his 10th win in 32 starts. A victory would put him above $1.3 million in earnings. Alex Solis will ride.

Yodeladytoo will break from the outside in the CERF and will look for her third win in a row at Del Mar. Owned by Thomas Wafer Jr. and trained by Bill Spawr, the 4-year-old Swiss Yodeler filly has been 7-1 and 4-1 in her two victories and was third in another start since being claimed by her current connections for $32,000 on May 21. Jon Court will be aboard.

Leading rider Victor Espinoza, who set a Del Mar record by winning seven races Monday, will be aboard Areyoutalkintome in the Pirate’s Bounty and will handle Victory Spy for hot trainer John Sadler in the CERF.

Race of the day: Second In Command, who won the Troy at Saratoga Aug. 14, heads a field of 10 turf sprinters scheduled to go five furlongs in the $75,000 Mister Diz today on the opening-day card at Laurel. Rudy Rodriguez will ride Second In Command, a 6-year-old Silver Deputy horse, for owner Michael Dubb and trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. in the race that is the ninth on the card.

One for the road: Johnny Rocket makes his first start since Dec. 14 and can beat a soft field of maidens in the fourth race at Golden Gate Fields. Macario Rodriguez will ride the 3-year-old Apollo gelding for owner-breeder Oakcrest Stable and trainer Lloyd Mason in the $20,000 claimer at six furlongs.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Alcippe in the sixth; Run To The Border, Dell Place, Carano and Holdthehelm in the seventh; and Prime Ruler, Great Hunter and Horse Greeley in the eighth.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 4/112. Money: (previous day/meet total): $16.60/$635. Total money bet: $722.

bob.mieszerski@latimes.com