Del Mar Derby Div. 1 2013 Contenders at Del Mar

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 2 Del Mar Derby comes our way this Sunday, September 1 from Del Mar racetrack in beautiful Del Mar, California. Three year olds will be featured as they take to Del Mar's turf track and go 1 1/8 miles chasing the winner's portion of the $300,000 purse. Division 2 entries can be found here

An overflow 24 entries have been confirmed forcing the organizers to split this race into two divisions. A field of 10 plus two Alternate Entry three year olds has been confirmed for Race 1 of the Del Mar Derby which is race 6 on Del Mar's Sunday schedule. Post time is 4:30 PM. Let's take a look at the credentials of all 12 entries for Division I of this Grade 2 stakes.

2013 Del Mar Derby Race Favorite Entries

Gervinho - Carla Gaines trained colt has won three of five starts including one division of the minor Oceanside Stakes here last time out and the minor Zuma Beach Stakes in October. His other career results include a disappointing fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and a second in the minor Silky Sullivan Stakes at Golden Gate in June. He has made the most of his light schedule and could be a threat Sunday. Gervinho is lightly raced but will have the experienced Rafael Bejarano in the saddle. He will be the likely favorite Sunday.

Rising Legend - made his North American debut and first start for trainer John Sadler back in November and finished a good second in the Grade 3 Generous Stakes at Hollywood Park after six starts overseas resulted in two wins in the last two starts, two seconds and two third place finishes. Last time out was a good win in the second division of the minor Oceanside Stakes just ahead of Gabriel Charles on this track July 17 after nearly eight months away. He has been in the money in all of his eight career starts and is certainly a threat in any race he enters. Julien Leparoux gets the mount.

Del Mar Derby 2013 | Remaining Contenders

Gabriel Charles - finished second to Gervinho in his only start of 2013 in the minor Oceanside Stakes on this track July 17. His graded stakes experience hasn't been great however - a seventh in the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes in September 2012 followed a sixth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity. Thos results came directly before his biggest career win though - at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in November. He is arguably the most experienced at high level racing in the field and will have Mike Smith in the irons.

Pure Loyalty - raced to a tenth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity last September but went on to place in six straight including a second in the minor Tsunami Slew Stakes in June. He had an eighth in an Allowance Optional Claiming here July 19 for his worst performance in a while but bounced back last time out with a close third in the Grade 2 La Jolla on this track August 10. He is a colt trending upwards and could be a factor Sunday.

Redwood Kitten - Wesley Ward trainee Redwood Kitten broke maiden at Gulfstream December 7 and followed that with an OK third to Charming Kitten in the minor Kitten's Joy Stakes on that same track in his stakes debut. He was an OK second in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream February 23 and was third to Jack Milton April 5 in his graded stakes debut - the Grade 3 Transylvania at Keeneland. Last time out was a disappointing fifth in the Grade 2 Virginia Derby in which he faded after leading most of the way - after a nice win in the minor James W. Murphy Stakes at Pimlico May 18. He should bring the speed to the Del Mar Derby Sunday.

Chief Havoc - Peter Miller trained colt enters having won three of his last five starts - in the Grade 2 Swaps Stakes July 4 at Hollywood Park, an Allowance by 4 3/4 lengths at Hollywood Park May 30 and a MSW at Santa Anita April 4. Sandwiched in there is a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming May 3. Last time out was an OK fourth in the highly competitive Grade 2 San Diego Handicap here July 27. His only other graded stakes action came in his first North American start in October - a sixth in the Grade 1 Foxwoods Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park. He now has three wins in nine career starts - all of those wins coming in his last five starts. He has run some big races with success but makes his first start on turf Sunday.

Del Mar Derby betting at Del Mar with OffTrackBetting.com

Procurement - Tom Proctor trained colt has raced two straight Grade 3 races and failed to place in either. Last time out was the American Derby and before that was the Arlington Classic - both results at Arlington Park. This after a pair of good minor stakes results at Santa Anita - a win in the La Puente in April and a second in the Pasadena Stakes in March. He has three wins, a second and a third place finish in 11 career starts.

Outside Nashville - Jerry Hollendorfer filly is coming off a his second career minor stakes victory - a win in the Robert Dupret Derby at Santa Rosa August 3 (the other coming in November in the Golden Nugget Stakes at Golden Gate). Before his latest score he recorded a pair of good seconds. He has finished out of the money just twice in nine career starts and is a threat each and every time out.

Say Ow - Julio Canini pupil has nine career starts with two wins and two seconds but all of those results have come in his last five start starts - although last time out was a huge disappointment - a seventh in the Grade 2 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer . He had been in good form before that race. He broke maiden in May at Hollywood Park and followed that with an Allowance Optional Claiming score on that same track - two straight wins heading into the West Virginia Derby - the only two victories of his career.

Si Sage - French bred colt makes just his third start on North American soil - the first being a fifth in the minor Oceanside Stakes on this track July 17 and the other being another fifth in the Grade 2 La Jolla Handicap also on this track. At home he had three wins, five seconds and a third place finish in 11 career starts. He is highly regarded but has yet to prove himself quite yet in North America.

Tom's Tribute - Alternate Entry James Cassidy trained colt steps up in stakes company for the first time Sunday having finished second in two straight Allowance races on this track - the last coming August 18. He broke maiden in his second career start at Hollywood Park in July after a fourth in his career debut.

Layton Register - Alternate Entry and Philip Oliver trainee has eight career starts - all MSW races. He has placed in four straight alternating seconds and thirds the last 3 1/2 months but has yet to taste victory in his career.