MR. COMMONS (Artie Schiller), an impressive 1 1/2-length winner of the
Oceanside S. on the opening-day program, will make his first start against older
horses in Saturday’s $200,000
Del Mar
Mile H. (G2). The three-year-old will face a short but talented group of
five rivals that includes Grade 1 winner CHAMP PEGASUS (Fusaichi Pegasus) and
multiple Grade 1-placed CARACORTADO (Cat Dreams).
Trained by John Shirreffs, Mr. Commons recorded a smart 5 1/2-length victory
when making his turf debut in a maiden special weight event at Santa Anita in
mid-January, but he was re-directed to the Triple Crown trail, narrowly
capturing a one-mile dirt allowance prior to a third in the Santa Anita Derby
(G1). The bay colt faltered when shipping to Pimlico for the Preakness (G1),
finishing a distant eighth, and was freshened two months for his next start in
the Oceanside.
Mr. Commons rallied wide into contention on the far turn of the one-mile turf
affair and inhaled his rivals in eye-catching fashion upon entering the stretch
run, cruising unopposed through the final eighth of a mile under a chilly Mike
Smith, who will return for the Del Mar Mile. Mr. Commons will receive weight
from his main rivals Saturday under a 114-pound impost.
Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) runner-up Champ Pegasus is the 121-pound highweight.
Winner of the 2010 Clement L. Hirsch (G1), the Richard Mandella-trained horse
captured the San Luis Obispo H. (G2) in his second outing this season but hasn’t
started since a disappointing 12th in the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) in late
March. The classy five-year-old will be cutting back in trip, making his first
start at less than 8 1/2 furlongs since his career debut in December 2009, and
he’ll retain the services of Joel Rosario.
Caracortado has run well in two Grade 1 starts at the distance this year,
posting a head second in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile and a neck second in the
Shoemaker Mile (G1), and the Michael Machowsky-trained gelding will be looking
to rebound from a non-threatening third as the favorite in the nine-furlong
Eddie Read (G1) earlier this meet. The Grade 2 winner will tote 120-pound
assignment with the hot-riding Joe Talamo, who recently surged to the top of the
Del Mar standings.
Northern California shipper OUR NAUTIQUE (NZ) (Pins), winner of the San
Francisco Mile (G3) earlier this year, will invade for Hall of Fame trainer
Jerry Hollendorfer off an easy victory in the Joseph T. Grace H. at Santa Rosa.
CALIMONCO (Storm Cat) and VICTORY PETE (Five Star Day), the first- and
third-place finishers in the July 27 Wickerr S., round out the field.