Del Mar BC Mile

[my miss storm cat]

Looks like it'll be a nice (yet short) field.

From DM barn notes.....

SIX APPEAR READY TO TEST ARAGORN IN DEL MAR B.C. MILE

There are those who have said they don’t want anything to do with the very dominating 4-year-old grass specialist Aragorn. But that doesn’t apply to the half-dozen who are committed to test the son of Giant’s Causeway in Saturday’s 20th running of the Grade II, $400,000 Del Mar Breeders’ Cup Mile on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

Aragorn, trained by Neil Drysdale, has been super-dominant in his most recent two starts – victories in the Grade I Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile at Hollywood Park May 29 and the Grade I Eddie Read Handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Del Mar on July 23. Those two wins catapulted Aragorn to the top of the list of prospects for the Breeders’ Cup NetJets Mile division. Cory Nakatani retains the mount for Drysdale.

Among those stepping up to tackle Aragorn, high-weighted at 123 pounds, will be Laura’s Lucky Boy, who will be making his first start for trainer Richard Mandella since October. “He’s a nice horse and he’s shown he likes this turf course,” Mandella said. “I want to get him started. He’s ready to run.” The 5-year-old son of Theatrical, owned by Mercedes Stable, ran twice over the Del Mar turf course last year, winning the Escondido Handicap by disqualification and losing by a nose to Leprechaun Kid in the Del Mar Handicap. As a 3-year-old, he was third in the Del Mar Derby on the grass. Laura’s Lucky Boy will have Norberto Arroyo, Jr., in the irons.

Back from a second-place in the Read will be Sweet Return for trainer Ron McAnally and regular rider Alex Solis.

Also taking a second shot at Aragorn are Hendrix, from the Craig Dollase barn, with David Flores aboard, and Julio Canani’s Quasimodo, with Victor Espinoza. Hendrix was sixth in the Read and Quasimodo was fifth.

Wild Buddy, who has lost twice to T.H. Approval in his last three outs, will try a shorter distance in hopes of better results, and El Don, recent winner of Del Mar’s California Dreamin’ Handicap for Cal-breds will try open competition again. Jon Court has the call on Wild Buddy and Jose Valdivia, Jr. will handle the reins on El Don.