Multiple Irish Group 3 heroine CARRIBEAN SUNSET (Ire) (Danehill Dancer), who
came within a head of upsetting champion Forever Together (Belong to Me) in the
Diana S. (G1) at Saratoga, is the top draw in Wednesday’s $200,000
Palomar H. (G2) at
Del Mar. In addition to the 1 1/16-mile turf test for distaffers, the
closing-day program also marks a couple of notable comebacks — Grade 1-winning
sprinter COST OF FREEDOM (Cee’s Tizzy) will return from a nearly year-long
absence in the $85,000
Pirate’s Bounty S., while CROWN OF THORNS (Repent), sidelined since landing
the 2008 Robert B. Lewis S. (G2), will reappear in the
7TH race.
By sending Carribean Sunset from Saratoga to Del Mar, trainer Christophe
Clement is following the same game plan that he used so successfully last year
with Vacare. Fourth to Forever Together in the 2008 Diana, Vacare shipped in for
the Palomar and scored by a half-length. Unlike Vacare, however, Carribean
Sunset keeps her Diana jockey aboard. Ramon Dominguez makes the trek west to
stick with the 120-pound highweight, who will break widest of all from post 10.
Las Cienegas H. (G3) queen GOTTA HAVE HER (Royal Academy), who dead-heated
for second to Vacare in 2008, is back again for Jenine Sahadi. A model of
consistency all season, the bay exits a closing second in the John C. Mabee S.
(G1) to regional divisional leader Magical Fantasy (Diesis [GB]). Regular rider
Tyler Baze will once again team up with the late runner.
ALLICANSAYIS WOW (Street Cry [Ire]) and LETHAL HEAT (Unusual Heat) were
second and third, respectively, when taking on males in the Del Mar Mile H.
(G2). Lethal Heat actually held the lead in midstretch before being passed by
Ferneley (Ire) (Ishiguru), while Allicansayis Wow got up late for second, and
could profit from the added ground in the Palomar.
MEYDAN PRINCESS (Ire) (Choisir), a good-looking winner of the Osunitas H. at
this course and distance two back, could do no better than sixth in the
nine-furlong Mabee, but is eligible to improve when shortening up in trip here.
DAWN AFTER DAWN (Successful Appeal), who has been chasing Zenyatta (Street Cry
[Ire]) on the synthetic, could rebound back on turf for the ever-dangerous John
Sadler.
An intriguing new shooter to Del Mar is WILD PROMISES (Wild Event), who ships
in from Golden Gate Fields. The Greg Gilchrist mare racked up a six-stakes
winning streak over last season and into early 2009, a skein that was broken
when she was an uncharacteristic 10th in the Honey Fox S. (G3) in March.
Freshened since then, Wild Promises returned from a five-month layoff to romp by
eight lengths in the Luther Burbank H. at Santa Rosa.
In the six-furlong Pirate’s Bounty on the Polytrack, Cost of Freedom will be
racing for the first time since capturing last year’s Ancient Title S. (G1). The
Sadler charge was scratched by order of the veterinarian on the morning of the
Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), and he was still unable to get veterinary clearance
later that fall. Cost of Freedom has been training sharply at Del Mar since late
July, and having passed another veterinary inspection, he now appears ready to
roll with Tyler Baze.
Cost of Freedom will face only four rivals on Wednesday, including the
talented sprinter DANCING IN SILKS (Black Minnaloushe) and fellow comebacker
POLONIUS (Broken Vow), a Grade 3 turfiste who will reappear after a 14-month
layoff.
Crown of Thorns catapulted himself onto the Triple Crown in early 2008 with a
pair of dominating victories at Santa Anita. A seven-length maiden winner, he
posted an impressive 2 1/2-length decision in the Robert B. Lewis, only to
sustain an injury that cost him the rest of his sophomore campaign.
The Richard Mandella trainee has hooked a stakes-quality field in Wednesday’s
6 1/2-furlong allowance/optional claimer. Among his seven rivals are recent Real
Good Deal S. hero M ONE RIFLE (One Man Army), multiple Grade 2-placed HALO NAJIB
(Halo’s Image), multiple Grade 3 veteran BONFANTE (Fruition) and the speedy
SUPREME SUMMIT (Cactus Ridge).