Neptune's Storm © Del Mar Photo
On the next-to-last afternoon of the 2019 summer racing season, ten talented three-year-olds will clash in a wide-open renewal of the Grade II $250,000 Del Mar Derby at a mile and one-eighth on grass Sunday.
The 36-day meeting ends Monday, Labor Day, with the traditional closing-day feature, the Grade I $300,000 Del Mar Futurity for two-year-olds.
Likely favorite in the Del Mar Derby is the consistent Neptune’s Storm, beaten a neck by Kingly as the betting choice in the La Jolla Handicap August 4. Florent Geroux has the call from trainer Richard Baltas aboard Neptune’s Storm, a two-time stakes-winner at Santa Anita.
Seeking another victory over Neptune’s Storm will be the aforementioned Kingly, to be piloted by Mario Gutierrez for trainer Bob Baffert. Other contenders include Nolde, beaten a nose in the opening-day Oceanside Stakes; Originaire, a recent impressive come-from-behind winner, and Moody Jim, a maiden winner in fast time.
Victor Espinoza rides Nolde, Mike Smith will be aboard Originaire, while Drayden Van Dyke sticks with Moody Jim.
Completing the line-up are Walker Stalker, Ruben Fuentes; Hackberry, Martin Garcia; Visitant, Geovanni Franco; Parsimony, Abel Cedillo, and Nolo Contesto, Flavien Prat.
Supporting feature on a ten-race program is the $100,000 Del Mar Juvenile Turf for two-year-olds at one mile on the infield Jimmy Durante Course.
Entered are Encoder, Prat; Commander, Cedillo; Hit The Road, Joe Talamo; Croughavouke, Smith; Billy Batts, Van Dyke; Raging Whiskey, Rafael Bejarano, and Ardenlee Star, Geroux.
Post time for the first race is 2 p.m.