Las Vegas, NV - The 41st running of the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap takes place this Sunday, August 19 from Del Mar Raceway in Southern California. Fillies and mares three years old and upward will be featured as they go six and a half furlongs on Del Mar's all weather track for a $150,000 purse.
A group of seven females will line up for the Rancho Bernardo. It is race 6 on Del Mar's Sunday card with a post time of 4:30 PM. Here is a look at the seven entries and what brought them to this Grade 3 race.
Sugarinthemorning - has four starts in 2012 with three second place finished - the Grade 2 A Gleam last time out, the Fran's Valentine Stakes in May and the Grade 1 Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita on January 28 in a race that Home Sweet Aspen won.. She also ended 2011 with another second to Teddy's Promise in the La Brea Stakes - Amazing! Is Sugarinthemorning destined to finish second again? She is a dual stakes winner and has five wins - the last of which was over a year ago, four seconds and a third in 15 career starts.
Home Sweet Aspen - won the Grade 1 Santa Monica Stakes on January 28 but followed that with a disappointing fifth in the Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes at Santa Anita on March 11. Last time out saw she post another subpar result - an eighth and last place finish in the Grade 1 Vinery Madison Stakes back on April 12. Stud jockey Joel Rosario will be back in Home Sweet Aspen's saddle just as he has been in all 11 of her career starts. Home Sweet Aspen has four wins and three seconds in 11 career races.
Glamorista - Bob Baffert entry Glamorista has won three of six career starts with one second and one third place finish. Last time out was a respectable third in her stakes debut - the Grade 2 A Gleam Handicap at Hollywood Park on July 14 to follow a win in an Allowance on that same track.
Winding Way - is the only three year old and will be making just her third career start after two wins in her first two - an Allowance Optional Claiming last time out here on July 21 and a Maiden Special Weight on June 10 at Hollywood Park. She's been impressive.
Rancho Bernardo Handicap betting at Del Mar with OffTrackBetting.com
Indian Gracey - Jerry Hollendorfer trained filly will be making her third start this year and is coming off an impressive win in the California State Fair Sprint Handicap at Sacramento on July 21 to follow a fourth in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Golden Gate on June 15 after a nine month layoff. Indian Gracey has three wins, two seconds and two third place finishes in eight career starts.
Moonstruck Maya - four year old filly has yet to start a stakes race but comes into the Rancho Bernardo having won three straight - an Allowance last time out at Hollywood Park on July 15, an Allowance Optional Claiming on June 24 and a Claiming race in May. Moonstruck Maya has only four wins in 13 career starts with three of those wins coming in the last three races. Needless to say, she is in the best form of her career.
Rumor - is a multiple stakes winner although still has yet to break through in a graded stakes race. Rumor has won four of nine starts and has not finished worse than second in any race except for the Grade 1 Santa Monica Stakes on January 28 - that after two straight wins including the Kalookan Queen Handicap. Last time out was a decent second in the Time To Leave Stakes at Hollywood Park in May. Sunday mark Rumor's third start of 2012.
