Split Field for Oceanside Stakes Highlights Del Mar's Wednesday Opener

Del Mar's 2001 meet opens Wednesday with the Oceanside Stakes serving as the opening-day feature. A profusion of entrants for the one-mile turf race for 3-year-olds led the track to split the race into two divisions.

Eleven horses will vie for the $75,000 purse offered in both heats with the 118-pound co-highweights (Dr. Park and Macabe) both drawing into the second division, the eighth race on the nine-race card.

C R K Stable's Dr. Park finished second in the Diamond A – USA Stakes in his most recent outing after winning the Will Rogers Stakes (gr. IIIT) in a dead-heat finish with Media Mogul. Dr. Park (Honor Grades--Hasty Appeal, by World Appeal) has won three of six career starts, with all his wins coming this year.

Macabe has yet to win a stakes race but did finish second in the restricted Manila Stakes in his most recent start. Al and Saundra S. Kirkwood's son of Gone West has won two of 10 career races for trainer Craig Lewis.

The first division is carded as the track's fifth race on the day and featured 11 colts weighted within two pounds of each other.

Earlier on the card, Godolphin unveils Ibn Al Haitham, a 2-year-old half-brother of 1989 Epsom Oaks (Eng-I) winner Snow Bride, in a five-furlong maiden race with a $47,000 purse. (Entries, Equibase)