United, eastern invader Arklow clash in the Del Mar Handicap

Four Graded stakes, each eligible to be a card topper on a given day, instead will provide a first-rate “undercard” for Saturday’s Pacific Classic Day at Del Mar.

Topping the quartet are a pair of $300,000 offerings – the Del Mar Oaks (G1) for 3-year-old fillies and the Del Mar Handicap (G2). The former is run at nine furlongs on grass, while the latter goes at a mile and three eighths on the green for 3-year-olds and up.

The Del Mar Handicap will bring out 10 competitors and sets up for a clash of titans between two of the best grass route horses in the country in locally-based United and eastern invader Arklow.

The likely battle royale between United and Arklow will be a fitting nitecap to a delicious day of racing. The pair of turf behemoths bring plenty of bragging rights to the race:  United, a 6-year-old gelding by Giant’s Causeway, has won nine races and $1,675,549. He was second, beaten a head, in this race last year.

Arklow also has won nine races, but his bankroll goes past his chief rival at $2,755,746. The long-winded stretch kicker shipped to Del Mar last fall and made short work of the Hollywood Turf Cup (G1) at 1 1/2 miles. Both runners will have their regular riders – Flavien Prat on United and Florent Geroux on Arklow.

The Del Mar Handicap is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge race that guarantees the winner all expenses paid admission into the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf, which will be run at Del Mar on Saturday, November 6.