Odds Set for La Jolla Handicap
Tim Yakteen-trained Freakin Rocket and John Sadler-trained Greeley Awesome, the respective third and second-place finishers in the first division of the opening day Oceanside Stakes, are the top choices on oddsmaker Russ Hudak’s morning line for Saturday’s $150,000, Grade II La Jolla Handicap.
The field, from the rail out: Si Sage (Edwin Maldonado, 10-1), Den’s Legacy (Corey Nakatani, 6-1), Uno Dos Adios (Agapito Delgadillo, 8-1), Dry Summer (Joe Talamo, 6-1), Greeley Awesome (Julien Leparoux, 9-2), Rosengold (Martin Garcia, 5-1), Freakin Rocket (Mike Smith, 7-2), Dice Flavor (Garrett Gomez, 6-1) and Pure Loyalty (Rafael Bejarano, 8-1).
Reggae Band Soja Added To Four O’clock Friday Lineup
The rising reggae band SOJA has been added to Del Mar’s Four O’Clock Friday lineup and will perform at the track following the races on Friday, August 23.
The Washington, D.C.-based group, noted for its high energy performances and positive message, has climbed near the top of the reggae world in the past decade and the five-member crew – led by singer/songwriter/guitarist Jacob Hemphill – is expected to draw a large gathering to the track’s Seaside Stage.
The band Yeah Yeah Yeahs was originally booked to appear August 23, but a scheduling conflict by the group caused it to cancel. Del Mar was fortunate to be able to arrange for SOJA’s appearance instead.
SOJA has produced four studio albums, the latest a multiple-award winner titled “Strong to Survive.” The group has appeared both nationally and internationally over the past year, including performances on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” festivals in Spain and Brazil and at an all-star tribute to Bob Marley at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
The concert will be free to those attending the races on August 23. For those only wishing to attend the concert, the charge is $20.
Fox Series For 2014 To Include Del Mar Events
FOX Sports and The Jockey Club announced Thursday a multi-year agreement to air prominent graded stakes races starting in 2014 from many of horse racing’s best known tracks on FOX Sports 1, a new sports network launching Saturday, Aug. 17.
The newly created package of nationally televised races consists of up to 10 telecasts per year. Each telecast includes two top stakes races featuring the leading horses in North America.
The race series features graded stakes races from some of the most historic racetracks in North America, including Del Mar, Gulfstream Park, Keeneland, Santa Anita Park and Woodbine as well as the race tracks of the New York Racing Association.
Trakus Facts For Wednesday
Clenor rallied from well off the pace to win Wednesday’s fourth race at a mile on the turf. The well-backed choice ran the final quarter in 23.66 seconds, and the final eighth in 11.91 seconds while winning clear. The next-fastest finisher in the race was fourth-placer Quick Navigator, recording a final quarter in 24.09 seconds and a final furlong in 12.00 seconds.