Undefeated in three starts this year for trainer Ben Cecil, Worldly is the 121-pound high weight in a field of nine 3-year-olds entered for the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap (gr. IIT) Aug. 11 at Del Mar.
Worldly won the 1 1/8-mile Cinema Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIIT) on the Hollywood Park grass course June 23, defeating even-money choice Golden Balls by one length. Before that, Worldly captured the one-mile Will Rogers (gr. IIIT) over the same Hollywood layout.
A British-bred son of Selkirk, Worldly raced in England as a 2-year-old before being bought by Christopher Wright, the owner of Stratford Place in Gloucestershire County, England, and sent to Cecil. Leading rider Michael Baze has the mount in the 1 1/16-mile La Jolla. Baze takes over for Victor Espinoza, who will be at Arlington Park Aug. 11 to ride reigning Arlington Million (gr. IT) champ The Tin Man.
Ten a Penny and Vauquelin, winners of two divisions of the opening day Oceanside Stakes July 18 at the seaside track, are also back for the 1 1/16-mile test on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. The La Jolla is the final local tune-up for the $400,000 Del Mar Derby (gr. IIT) at nine furlongs on Sept. 2.
Ten a Penny won the first division of the one-mile Oceanside on the turf in 1:35.51 and was supplemented to the La Jolla for $1,500. He won by an easy 1 1/2 lengths over Unusual Suspect, who is back to challenge him at the longer distance. With Baze moving to Worldly, trainer Craig Dollase chose Joe Talamo to ride Ten a Penny.
The Irish-bred Vauquelin weaved his way to capture the last of three Oceanside divisions for trainer Kathy Walsh with Espinoza aboard. Corey Nakatani rides this time around.
British-bred Medici Code, beaten a head in the fastest of the last of three Oceanside divisions, is back for another shot at stakes company. He gets the services of jockey Martin Pedroza in the absence of David Flores, who will ride Citronnade in the Beverly D. (gr. IT) at Arlington Park Aug. 11.
La Jolla contender Dilemma worked on the grass Wednesday, going a half-mile in :51 1/5. -- Jack Shinar
$150,000 La Jolla Handicap (gr. IIT, Race 9, 6 p.m.), 3-Year-Olds, 1 1/16 Miles (Turf)
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Latin Rhythms (FL), 114, Jose Valdivia, Jr.
2. Star Inside (IRE), 114, G. F. Almeida
3. Karazi (SWI), 116, Brice Blanc
4. Worldly (GB), 121, Michael C. Baze
5. Unusual Suspect (CA), 116, Mike E. Smith
6. Vauquelin (IRE), 117, Corey S. Nakatani
7. Ten a Penny (KY), 118, Joseph Talamo
8. Medici Code (GB), 115, Martin A. Pedroza
9. Dilemma (KY), 116, Aaron T. Gryder
Cinema Breeders' Cup winner Worldly looks to stay perfect this year in the La Jolla.
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