Hero to Zero © Benoit Photo

Six California-bred youngsters will strut their stuff at Del Mar Friday evening in the 75th edition of the Graduation Stakes, a race that is part of the $3.85 million Golden State Stakes Series that presents 31 races at tracks in the state for Cal-breds with eight of them taking place this summer at the seaside oval.

The feature, run at five furlongs on the main track and carrying a purse of $100,000, has drawn four colts, one gelding and one filly and will go as Race 7 on an eight-race card with a likely post time of 7 p.m.

None of the youngsters have raced more than twice and the pair likely to draw the most attention and action have merely run a single time, though in each case they completed sharp winning efforts.

Reddam Racing’s homebred gray Hero Or Zero comes into the dash off a score at Santa Anita in a straight maiden affair on June 15, taking rider Umberto Rispoli for a good five-furlong run that saw him finish six and a half lengths best at the end. The son of Pavel will have Rispoli up again Friday as they break from the outside in the short field.

The possible chief threat to the top one appears to be Legacy Ranch’s Sammy Davis, a gelded son of Sir Prancealot who was a handy winner of his debut on July 19 at Del Mar under Hector I. Berrios, who’ll once more will be in the tack.

Two of Del Mar’s top conditioners – Doug O’Neill (Hero Or Zero) and John Sadler (Sammy Davis) – train the likely favored pair and will help saddle them for their spin Friday.

The lone filly in the field is What’s a Good Name, a bay daughter of Grazen who races for J. Kirk and Judy Robison and comes out of the barn of Peter Miller. She’s won one of her two starts so far and will have top rider Juan Hernandez aboard.

Here’s the full field for the race in post position order from the rail out with riders and morning line odds: What’s a Good Name (6-1); David Hinkins’ Desert Dawg (Welfin Orantes, 15-1); Richard Barton’s Trump Era (Adrian Escobedo, 6-1); Sammy Davis (9/5); Lovingier, Moroney, Grey, et al’s Fionello (Armando Ayuso, 5-1), and Hero Or Zero (8/5).

Friday’s first post is slated for 4 p.m.