Del Mar ready for another big opening

Opening day at Del Mar has become horse racing’s version of the Academy Awards, producing lots of glitz, glamour and most of all, big crowds.

There were 45,309 at last year’s opener, and Wednesday’s first day of Del Mar’s 37-day summer meeting figures to offer another party-like atmosphere that includes spectators wearing lots of colorful hats during a 10-race program.

A capacity field of 10 is entered, with four also-eligibles, in the featured race, the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-olds going one mile on the turf. And the likely favorite is Mr. Commons, making a return to the turf after an eighth-place finish in the Preakness Stakes.

Trainer John Shirreffs, who knows a little about preparing horses for the turf, said Mr. Commons’ only appearance on the turf, a 5 1/2-length victory in January over Santa Anita’s downhill course, provided powerful evidence that the son of Artie Schiller should enjoy the surface.

“The way he broke his maiden coming downhill at Santa Anita was spectacular,” Shirreffs said.

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith will be aboard Mr. Commons in the Oceanside, which will go off as race No. 8.

Del Mar will be running races Wednesday through Sunday, hoping that an influx of 2-year-olds combined with monetary incentives for out-of-state horses to ship to Del Mar will keep the horse population large enough for racing five days a week without having to cancel any cards.

There are 42 stakes races scheduled worth $7 million in purses, including eight Grade I races, highlighted by the $1-million Pacific Classic on Aug. 28.

There’s also an intriguing jockey match race scheduled for Aug. 7 featuring Smith against Chantal Sutherland in what is being called the “Battle of the Exes.”

The meeting is used by many trainers to unveil their most promising 2-year-olds, and trainer John Sadler has a full brother to 2010 Santa Anita Derby winner Sidney’s Candy named Sweet Swap who could debut at Del Mar.

First post for Wednesday is 2 p.m.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com