Domus © Benoit Photo

Two of the west’s top conditioners – Bob Baffert and Doug O’Neill – have Sunday’s $100,000 Bob Hope Stakes surrounded – literally. The pair have a hand in all seven of the 2-year-old runners in the seven-furlong test with Baffert saddling two of the runners and O’Neill the other five.

Del Mar’s morning line maker, Jon Lies, has hung Baoma Corp’s Domus (a Baffert) as the 8/5 favorite. Baffert’s other charge – Pegram, Watson and Weitman’s Kivo – is next at 3-1. Then come’s O’Neill’s Sip It, who runs in the silks of CTR Stables, Hartman Stable, et al, at 5-1.

Everyone of the youngsters in the lineup has won at least one race. Of further note is that for the first time in his fourth race, Domus, a ridgling by the late sire Uncle Mo, will go without blinkers. The bay will be handled by top rider Juan Hernandez as they break from Post 4.

Kivo, who’ll have Emisael Jaramillo in the boot, comes out of the outside Post 7. He’s a colt by Omaha Beach who cost $350,000 as a yearling.

Sip It, who’ll start from the rail, will have Kazushi Kimura aboard. The chestnut is by the Tapit sire Greatest Honour and scored in his second start at Santa Anita when sent off at odds of 20-1. He worked smartly at Del Mar last Sunday, going five furlongs in :59 3/5 out of the gate.

Bob Hope, of course, was one of America’s great comedians and actors. He originally was an English vaudevillian who got his big break at Del Mar when he and Bing Crosby drew raves for their improvised comedy act at afterhours parties in the Turf Club following the races in the 1930s. They subsequently took their magic to the silver screen and made seven “buddy” movies under the titles “Road to…..” They are considered the most popular “buddy” movies of all time.

The Bob Hope is the eighth of nine races on the card with a pot time of approximately 4 p.m. First post for the day is 12:30 p.m.