First Look: Del Mar turf stakes, Derby-Oaks qualifiers are on tap

Everso Mischievous looks for his fourth straight win for trainer Brad Cox in the Grade 2 Cigar Mile this weekend at Aqueduct, which also will host points qualifiers for the Kentucky Derby and Oaks. 

And Del Mar wraps up its meet with four graded turf stakes, which are drawing the attention of plenty of out-of-town trainers.

Here is an early look at the likely fields.

Saturday

Cigar Mile (G2), Aqueduct, 1 mile, 3-year-olds and up

Everso Mischievous has won three straight and four of his six starts, most recently beating Dr Ardito and Accretive, both also possible here, in the Forty-Niner (G2) at this track and distance. Señor Buscado would return from his seventh-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and Hoist the Gold and Three Technique were sixth and eight in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Remsen (G2), Aqueduct, 1 1/8 miles, 2-year-olds, 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points

Now 2-for-3, Where’s Chris won the Nashua last out, with Billal and Private Desire, also expected here, finishing third and fourth. Copper Tax has a five-race win streak, with the last two coming in stakes at Delaware Park and Laurel Park. Dornoch led gate to wire to win by 6 1/2 lengths in breaking his maiden last out.

Demoiselle (G2), Aqueduct, 1 1/8 miles, 2-year-old fillies, 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points

Life Talk’s fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies came after a third-place effort in the Frizette (G1). Ringy Dingy broke her maiden at Aqueduct on second try and most recently went from last to first to win a black-type stakes at Delaware Park. After finishing fourth in the Alcibiades, Shimmering Allure shipped to Aqueduct and won the listed Tempted Stakes.

Go For Wand (G3), Aqueduct, 1 mile, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Venti Valentine was coming off stakes wins at Saratoga and Finger Lakes when she finished third last out in the Empire Distaff, beaten by Know It All Audrey, also possible here. In her second start off a nine-month layoff, Tizzy in the Sky won an optional-claiming allowance and then was second last out in the Turnback the Alarm at Aqueduct.

Hollywood Derby (G1), Del Mar, 1 1/8 miles (turf), 3-year-olds

Seal Team got his first start of the year in August and has gone 3-for-4, winning the Twilight Derby (G2) last out over four others possible here. Program Trading was 3-for 3, including a win in the Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1), before finishing second in the Virginia Derby (G3) last out. Webslinger has an 8: 3-2-2 record but was second in the Saratoga Derby and third in the Twilight Derby.

Jimmy Durante (G3), Del Mar, 1 mile (turf), 2-year-old fillies

Grand Slam Smile would try her first graded stakes with a record of 5: 3-2-0, including wins in two black-type stakes. Antifona would make her first U.S. start after going 7: 2-2-1 in France. Ireland-bred Zona Verde was 0-for-4 in that country before breaking her maiden in her first U.S. start and then finishing sixth in the Surfer Girl (G3).

Probables were not available for the Valedictory Stakes (G3) at Woodbine on Saturday.

Sunday

Matriarch (G1), Del Mar, 1 mile (turf), fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Closing Remarks has won four graded stakes this year, most recently winning the Goldikova (G2) over favorite Queen Goddess. Fluffy Socks has gone 0-for-3 since winning the Distaff Turf Mile (G1) in May. Surge Capacity, unraced as a 2-year-old last year, has a record of 4: 3-1-0 this year, with three of those starts in graded stakes.

Cecil B. DeMille (G3), Del Mar, 1 mile (turf), 2-year-olds

Deadpan was second in his debut before breaking his maiden by a neck at Keeneland, both at 1 1/16 miles. Lord Bullingdon’s win in the Golden Mile was his first in four starts. After breaking his maiden, Stay Hot tried the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and finished 10th. Final Boss broke his maiden on his second try last out, winning by a head at 6 1/2 furlongs.