2014 Del Mar Derby

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 2 Del Mar Derby is scheduled for Del Mar in the great state of California this Sunday, August 31. Some of the best three year olds around will take to Del Mar's revamped turf track and race 1 1/8 miles for a purse of $300,000.

A field of eight three year olds will line up in the Del Mar Derby - race 9 on Del Mar's Sunday card. Post time is 6:00 PM. Let's take a peek into the credentials of all eight entries for this Grade 2 stakes.

2014 Del Mar Derby Race Favorite Entries

Enterprising - has placed in eight of nine career starts for trainer Tom Proctor and enters having won three of his last four starts overall - none bigger than last time out in the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap here August 9. His other recent wins include the minor Oceanside Stakes on this track last time out July 17 and the minor Pasadena Stakes in March with a third in the La Puenta Stakes at Santa Anita in April sandwiched in there. He also won the minor Eddie Logan Stakes early on in his career. Enterprising has won two straight races on this track and has won five of six career starts on grass. He looks for a sweep of the three year old grass series for males at Del Mar and is the one to beat with Mike Smith in the irons from post 5.

Sammy Mandeville - Doug O'Neill trained colt has five career starts with just one win to show for it - a maiden score in his second career start. He enters off a decent third behind Enterprising in the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap here August 9 after a fourth in the minor Oceanside Stakes behind Enterprising on this track July 17 and a fifth in an Allowance at Belmont Park in June. Rafael Bejarano gets the mount from the outside post as Sammy Mandeville looks to best Enterprising for the first time.

Del Mar Derby 2014 | Remaining Contenders

Flamboyant - French bred Flamboyant has placed in all nine career starts - three wins, three seconds and three third place finishes. He enters off a good third behind the terrific Mr Speaker in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational July 5 after a second in the minor Pennine Ridge Stakes in May and a win over Home Run Kitten and Enterprising in the listed La Puente Stakes at this distance at Santa Anita April 19. Flamboyant has been competitive every time out and could be a factor with Joel Rosario in the reins from gate 7.

Home Run Kitten - David Hofmans pupil broke maiden in his second career start -January 11 after a third in a similar race in his debut December 15. His stakes debut resulted in a disappointing fifth - in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes February 8 but he has place in all three stakes starts since. Last time out was a nice win in the minor Singletary Stakes at Santa Anita June 21 after an Allowance Optional Claiming score in May, a second in the minor La Puenta Stakes in April and a third in the minor Pasadena Stakes in March. He has certainly been trending upward and should challenge from the rail Sunday with Joe Talamo aboard.

Del Mar Derby betting online at Del Mar with OffTrackBetting.com

Aventador - French bred Aventador makes his North American debut Sunday having raced 16 times already in his career - just two wins, four seconds and two third place finishes. He finished second in a Group 3 Stakes at Longchamp in April and followed that with a fifth in a Group 2 race in May and a seventh in a Group 1 in June. Last time out was a stakes score at Compiegne in June. Aventador has been in some big races in the past and shouldn't be intimidated in his debut here. Elvis Trujillo gets the call from gate 6.

Talco - French bred John Sadler trained colt makes his North American debut Sunday having placed in five of six starts at home - two wins, two seconds and a third place finish. Last time out was a second in his stakes debut at Deauville July 2 after two wins in three races. Talco will have Corey Nakatani in the irons from post 4 as he hopes to carry some success at home to this race.

Midnight Storm -Philip D'Amato trained colt makes his stakes debut Sunday after six career starts yielded two wins and two second place finishes. Last time out was an Allowance Optional Claiming score on this track August 10 after an eighth in a similar race in July and after breaking maiden in June - in his fourth career start. Midnight Storm starts from post 3 Sunday with Tyler Baze in the saddle having won two of his last three starts overall but in the midst of a huge step up in competition.

Sawyer's Hill - has seven career starts for trainer Kristin Mulhall - three wins and two third place finishes which came to start his career in MSW races. He enters having won two straight races and three of his last four against lesser competition. His stakes experience over that span has resulted in a seventh in the Grade 3 San Felipe in March and a sixth in the minor Singletary Stakes at Santa Anita June 21. Martin Garcia has the call from post 2 as Sawyer's Hill looks to break through in stakes company for the first time.