La Jolla Handicap Looks Wide Open

Del Mar

The featured $150,000 Grade II LaJolla Handicap at Del Mar looks to be a fairly wide open race with no graded stakes winners and several recent maiden winners in the field. The La Jolla is carded at a mile and a sixteenth for three year olds over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

Horses To Watch for the LaJolla

I'll Show Them
He is 2 for 2 and moves up to the stakes level after an impressive win on the grass at Hollywood Park in 80K Optional Claimer over rival Gretzky in his last. Martin Garcia rides for David Holmans.

Gretsky
He has a turf win over this course in his last and is 2 for 2 at this distance on the turf. Must respect his connections and he may well go off the favorite. Garrett Gomez rides for Neil Drysdale.

Rendezvous
He ran 3rd after traffic trouble in the Oceanside over this course and has hit the board in all three attempts on the lawn. Jockey/trainer combo clicking at a 24% win clip. Joel Rosario rides for Jerry Hollendorfer.

Meteore
He ran 5th as the favorite in the Oceanside here on opening day after going wide around both turns and weakening in the lane. He had won two in a row on the lawn before that and has hit the board in 4 of 6 turf starts. Alex Solis rides for Richard Mandella.

Herr Mozart
He has been the favorite in 3 of his last 6 races and has run 4th in his last two in the Oceanside here and the Grade III Cinema at Hollywood Park. Others look better in here but this trainer has a way of getting it done in big races. Victor Espinoza rides for new Hall of Fame inductee Bob Baffert.