Del Mar Begins Season With $100,000 Oceanside Stakes

Philip D’Amato will saddle the favorite, Papacoolpapacool, at odds of 5-2 on the morning line. A gelded son of Temple City, he has been on the board in six of his nine starts and is a four-time winner. After winning three consecutive races in the spring, he is trying to rebound after a seventh-place finish in the Penn Mile (G3). He has been training steadily back at Santa Anita since that race and will have Gary Stevens aboard from post position ten.

Soul Driver trying for back to back stakes scores

Second choice at odds of 3-1 on the morning line is Soul Driver for trainer Jeff Mullins. A chestnut son of Street Boss, he has won two of his eight starts and will try to earn his second consecutive stakes victory after winning the Singetary Stakes last time out. He won by 4 ½ lengths under Gary Stevens last time out and will get a jockey change to Mike Smith from post position eleven.

Lightly-raced Forest Blue shooting for first stakes win

Also in the field at morning line odds of 8-1 is Forest Blue for trainer Peter Miller. Purchased for $60,000 as a juvenile, the gelded son of Tale of Ekati has been on the board in all three starts and will be trying for his first stakes victory. He broke his maiden at first asking and has been second in both starts against winners. Victor Espinoza will be aboard and they will break from the rail.