Six 3-year-olds have answered the call for runners in Del Mar's fall session opening feature – the $75,000 Let It Ride Stakes, an overnight offering at a mile on the lawn. It will go as Race 7 on an eight-race card at the seaside oval this Friday on the first of 13 race days during its 10th Bing Crosby Season.
First post daily throughout the four-week stand will be a 12:30 p.m.
The Let It Ride looms a contentious affair with none of the young horses jumping out as a stout favorite. Three of the runners come into the fray off a last-out maiden special weight tally, two on the grass and the other on the synthetic Tapeta at Woodbine in Canada.
That trio consists of Valient Ranches's Calm Sea, Augustin Stables' Camilo and Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal's Dandy Man Shines.
Calm Sea scored in a dead-heat going a mile and an eighth at Santa Anita on October 14. He was handled by Mario Gutierrez that day and will have the same rider up Friday.
Camilo comes down from Toronto where he registered his tally on October 7 at seven furlongs. He gets top rider Flavien Prat for his California debut.
Dandy Man Shines clicked at Del Mar at eight furlongs on the green on September 9. He had Umberto Rispoli up that afternoon and will partner with him again Friday.
Here's the rest of the field with riders: R3 Racing's Sharp Aza Tack (Tiago Pereira); Great Friends Stables, Davis, et al's Ah Jeez (Antoni Fresu), and C R K Stable's Smart Mo (Juan Hernandez).
The Let It Ride is the first of 15 stakes worth more than $2-million that will be presented during the meet, nine of them graded and 10 on the turf.
Racing will be held on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday basis through closing day on Sunday, December 3. Additionally, there will be a special card on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, with an 11 a.m. first post that will allow fans to make it home in plenty of time for turkey dinners.
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