Seven Face Off in Del Mar Mile

Seven evenly matched turf runners will go to the post Saturday in the 24th version of the Grade II, $250,000 Del Mar Mile on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

Blue Chagall, Bruce's Dream, Golden Mexico and Moudez are entering the race off a victory, but the field is very competitive, with two others -- Scenic Blast and Enriched -- having impressive efforts at Del Mar, and another, Meteore, trying to regain his 3-year-old form that was good enough to produce a win in Del Mar's Grade II La Jolla Handicap last year.

Blue Chagall, owned by Prestonwood Racing and trained by Julio Canani, captured the Wickerr Handicap July 28, and Bruce's Dream, trained by Mike Puype for Corwin Racing, won the California Dreamin' Handicap July 25. Canani finally got the trip he wanted for Blue Chagall in the Wickerr and he was quick to point to this race for his 5-year-old gelding's next race.

Enriched posted third-place finishes in the Grade I Eddie Read Stakes and Grade II San Diego Handicap on successive weekends, and Scenic Blast was a sharp second in the Grade I Bing Crosby Stakes at 6 furlongs on the main track August 1. He goes back to his favorite surface in the Mile.

Golden Mexico, trained by John Sadler, won an optional claiming race at Del Mar July 31, and Moudez, trained by Steven Miyadi, was a winner of the J.T. Grace Handicap at Santa Rosa in his first start since 2007 for owner Zayat Stables.

Here's the lineup from the rail, with weights and riders: Blue Chagall, 118, David Flores; Golden Mexico, 114, Victor Espinoza; Moudez, 114, Patrick Valenzuela; Meteore, 115, Rafael Bejarano; Scenic Blast, 121, Mike Smith; Enriched, 119, Joel Rosario, and Bruce's Dream, 117, Garrett Gomez.