Del Mar Meeting Kicks off with $100,000 Oceanside

The Oceanside, carded as race 8, is scheduled to run at approximately 5:40 Pacific time and has drawn a field of eleven, led by 5/2 morning line favorite, Papacoolpapacool. A gelded son of Temple City, Papacoolpapacool is among a throng of stakes-caliber grass horses sired in the first crop of runners by the burgeoning turf stallion. Papacoolpapacool saw a three-race win-streak snapped May 30 in the Grade 3 Penn Mile, where he finished 7^th in his first start outside California. Prior to that effort, the Phillip D’Amato-trainee claimed consecutive stakes victories in Pasadena and La Puente Stakes – both at Santa Anita. Papacoolpapacool has won 4 of 9 career starts, and will break from post 10 under Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens.

Soul Driver goes for stakes repeat

Soul Driver, the 3/1 second choice on the morning line, will break just to the outside of the favorite from post 11. The Jeff Mullins charge won the Singletary Stakes in his last start, June 20 at Santa Anita, and finished third behind Papacoolpapacool in the Pasadena two back. 

Claimer tackles stakes foes 

Ranulf (9/2),will have the advantage of breaking inside his main rivals, but his stepping up sharply in class after competing in the claiming ranks in each of his last four starts. With 6 wins in 17 career starts, Ranulf is the most experienced runner in the field.