Arrogate scaring ‘em away

DEL MAR, Calif. – Rival owners and trainers are in no hurry to run their older horses against Arrogate in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar.

As of late Wednesday morning, Arrogate had four likely rivals – Accelerate, Cat Burglar, Donworth, and El Huerfano.

El Huerfano, winner of an optional claimer at Santa Anita in June, was not a certain runner as of Wednesday, trainer Peter Miller said.

“If it’s going to be a fourhorse field, I might take a look,” Miller said early Wednesday morning.

There is an added incentive to take on Arrogate, who won the $10 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates on March 25 in his last start.

With him in the field, the purse will increase from $200,000 to $300,000. If Arrogate dominates as expected, the runner-up will receive $60,000, or the same as winning a $100,000 race.

The San Diego is run at 1 1/16 miles and is a prep for the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 19.

Projected entries were slightly stronger for Saturday’s Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Ashleyluvssugar, winner of the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes on turf at Santa Anita in May, is likely to face Abbey Vale, Hunt, Mr. Roary, Wanstead Gardens, and a supplemental entry in Up With the Birds.

Songbird back in California

Two-time champion Songbird is back in Southern California following her win in the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park last Saturday. It may not be long before she is back on the road.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said Wednesday that Songbird is being considered for the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes for fillies and mares Aug. 26 at Saratoga.

“We might take a look at that race,” he said. “We’ll have some different races to look at.”

Songbird was walked at Hollendorfer’s stable at Del Mar on Wednesday. She has shown signs of a quick recovery from the win in the Delaware Handicap at 1 1/4 miles.

“We thought she came out of it really well,” he said. “She cooled out nicely. She’s been eating well out of a tough race.”

Owned by Rick Porter, Songbird has won 13 of 14 starts and earned $4,562,000. She was the champion 2-year-old filly of 2015 and champion 3-year-old filly of 2016.

The leading race for fillies and mares at the Del Mar summer season is the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes on July 30, which is considered too quick of a return for Songbird.

Denman playing hurt

Trevor Denman is playing hurt this meet. The popular announcer is back for his 34th summer here at Del Mar, but he showed up for work Wednesday with a full cast on his right leg and a cane to help him move along, the result of an accident on farm equipment at his spread in Minnesota in April.

“Never had pain like that before,” said Denman, who said he broke his leg in three places and is supposed to have the cast off a couple of weeks into the meet.

Denman said he wasn’t even sure he’d make the meet as of a couple of weeks ago, but said he felt better, and he arrived with his usual good cheer, eager for the meet to start.

He said he was fortunate that his wife, Robin, was with him when the accident happened and could summon help.

Denman reduced his workload in late 2015, giving up his gig at Santa Anita, and now calls only at Del Mar’s summer and fall meetings. He lives two hours outside of Minneapolis the rest of the year.

Drefong nears return

Drefong is just about set to return to action. The champion male sprinter of 2016, he has been idle since his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, but he is scheduled to make his first start of the year in the Grade 1, $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes here on July 29, and tuned up with a sharp six-furlong work in 1:11.40 on Wednesday morning.

“Now he’s ready,” his trainer, Bob Baffert, said after Drefong’s drill. Drefong worked in company with Lord Simba, and Baffert said he may run both in the six-furlong Crosby.

Baffert said Drefong will have two races – the Crosby and Grade 1 Ancient Title at Santa Anita – before running in the Breeders’ Cup Nov. 4 at Del Mar.

Baffert also worked Vale Dori five furlongs in 59.60 seconds, preparing for a rematch with champion Stellar Wind in the Grade 1, $300,000 Clement Hirsch Stakes on July 30. Stellar Wind was first and Vale Dori second in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita on June 3.

◗ With Mike Smith in Saratoga on Sunday to ride Abel Tasman in the Coaching Club American Oaks, Drayden Van Dyke will pick up the mount aboard Sircat Sally in the Grade 2, $200,000 San Clemente Handicap for 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar.

The one-mile turf race gained an entrant on Wednesday, when Baffert said he would give Grade 1 winner Noted and Quoted a try on grass following an impressive work on the turf on Monday.