2017 La Jolla Handicap Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The G3 La Jolla Handicap goes down this Sunday, August 6 at Del Mar Race Track in Del Mar, California. Horses three years old will take to Del Mar's turf track and race 1 1/16 miles for the winner's share of the $150,000 purse.

A field of nine will take to the track in the La Jolla Handicap - race 8 on Del Mar's Sunday schedule. Post time is 5:30 PM. Here is a brief look into the past performances of all nine combatants for this G3 stakes.

2017 La Jolla Handicap Entries at Del Mar Race Track

Sharp Samurai 5-2

Has won three of his six career starts (two of three since switching to turf) for trainer Mark Glatt - all of his results have come at Santa Anita. Last time out was one of those wins - a career-best score in the minor $75,000 Rainbow Stakes June 10 which followed a fourth in the minor Singletary Stakes May 6, an Allowance Optional Claiming score April 6 and a sixth in a similar race March 9. Sharp Samurai has won every second start of his career so far and will be out to build on his most impressive effort Sunday. He makes his graded stakes debut with Gary Stevens in the irons of the morning line favorite from post 7.

Colonist 7-2

Jerry Hollendorfer trained colt has placed in three of his five career starts - two wins and a third-place finish. He made his stakes debut last time out and finished fourth of five in the G3 Los Alamitos Derby July 15 after his worst career-effort - a fifth in an Allowance Optional Claiming May 21 and two straight wins - an Allowance Optional Claiming April 29 and a MSW April 2. He finished third in his debut in March. Colonist has been OK against lesser competition and will try to make a name for himself in stakes company when he leaves from gate 2 Sunday with Flavien Prat in the saddle of the second betting choice.

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Monster Man 9-2

Has two wins and a third-place finish in eight career starts for trainer Scott Hansen. He steps into graded stakes company for the first time Sunday in OK form - a third last time out in the minor Rainbow Stakes at Santa Anita June 10 followed an Allowance Optional Claiming score on that track May 18 and off-the-board finishes in two minor stakes races - a fifth in the Singletary Stakes May 6 and a sixth in the Pasadena Stakes in March. He broke maiden in the race prior to that. Monster Man has been decent lately and will be after a first stakes win with Santiago Gonzalez aboard the morning line third choice from the outside post 9.

Pioneer Lad 6-1

Richard Baltas trained colt has five career starts and has hit the board in all - one win, two seconds and two third-place finishes. He makes his graded stakes debut Sunday off an OK stakes debut - a second in the minor Oceanside Stakes on this track July 19 after a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Santa Anita June 18 and a maiden score on that track May 13. Pioneer Lad has been competitive every time out against lesser company and hopes the momentum carries into his step up. Tyler Baze gets the call from gate 4.

Placido 6-1

Has three career starts for trainer Simon Callaghan with one win and one third-place finish - all results at Santa Anita. That win came last time out July 2 after a fifth and a third respectively to start his career. Placido takes an enormous step up into stakes company Sunday in so-so form with Rafael Bejarano guiding him from post 3.

Double Touch 8-1

British bred Dan Blacker trained gelding has two wins, a second and a third-place finish in eight career starts. He makes his graded stakes debut Sunday off a respectable Allowance Optional Claiming score at Santa Anita June 30, a ninth in the minor Singletary Stakes on that track May 6 and a second in his North American debut - an Allowance Optional Claiming at Santa Anita April 6. He failed to place in his last two starts at home. Double Touch has been inconsistent in his career so far but hopes to build on his best-yet effort from gate 8 Sunday. Kent Desormeaux gets the call.

Fashion Business 8-1

British bred Phil D'Amato trained gelding has one win, two seconds and a third-place finish in his six career starts. He makes his graded stakes debut Sunday off a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming on this track July 2, a seventh in the minor Rainbow Stakes at Santa Anita June 10, a third in an Allowance May 18 and an eighth in the minor Singletary Stakes at Santa Anita May 6. Fashion Business hasn't been all that impressive so far, particularly against stakes foes but hopes to change all of that from the rail Sunday. Joe Talamo rides.

Caribou Club 12-1

Thomas Proctor trained colt has hit the board in five of his six career starts - one win, two seconds and two third-place finishes. He won the minor Laurel Futurity at Laurel Park last September and went on to a second in an Allowance at Keeneland in April after seven months away. Last time out was an OK third right behind Pioneer Lad in the minor Oceanside Stakes on this track July 19 after a fourth in the listed James W. Murphy Stakes May 20. Caribou Club has been OK so far in his career but steps into graded stakes company looking for his first win in nearly a year. Drayden Van Dyke has the mount from gate 6.

Offshore 20-1

Has just one win in his five career starts for trainer Neil Drysdale and has failed to place in the others - his win came in his debut. He makes his graded stakes debut Sunday off a seventh in an Allowance at Del Mar July 28, a fifth in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Santa Anita April 6, and consecutive sixths in listed stakes action - the Eddie Logan Stakes in December and the Zuma Beach Stakes in October. Offshore hasn't been all that impressive so far in his career but hopes to change his fortunes around from post 5 Sunday with Evin Roman guiding him.

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2017 La Jolla Handicap Odds & Entries

Race 8 on Del Mar's Sunday card with a Post Time of 8:30 PM.