Mrs. Astor © Benoit Photo

Eleven fillies and mares will lace ‘em up tight Friday evening at Del Mar as they ready for an 11-furlong tussle over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course in the CTT and TOC Stakes, the main event on the eight-race card.  First race of the day goes at 3 p.m. and the feature is slated for 5:30 p.m.

The CTT part of the headliner stands for the California Thoroughbred Trainers, while the TOC is the abbreviation for the Thoroughbred Owners of California. The two groups work together to put racing on solid ground in the Golden State.

Likely favorite for the marathon is Augustin Stables’ homebred Mrs. Astor, a 5-year-old mare who has been known to run all day and then part of the night. She comes into the race off a mile and a quarter stakes tally at Santa Anita in June and also has a stakes tally at 11 furlongs at Del Mar last year (Red Carpet Stakes) to her credit.

She’s won six times with five seconds in 19 trips to the post and will have Umberto Rispoli on board for her Friday outing. Jonathan Thomas trains the bay.

Others of note in the field include CYBT, Nentwig or Ragano, et al’s Kentucky Gal and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners or Treitman’s Sunset Glory. The former is a 4-year-old Irish-bred filly who is a three-time winner, two of them in her native land. She’ll by handled by top rider Juan Hernandez for trainer Phil D’Amato.

Sunset Glory won this same race last year, scoring by a half length with a good late run. Trainer Michael McCarthy has named Kazushi Kimura as the pilot for the mare, another Irish bred.