World Cup Champ Well Armed Back in Action in San Diego 'Cap

by Patricia Woo | Jul 27 2009

Well Armed will make his triumphant return to the track at Del Mar on Saturday in the $250,000 San Diego Handicap (G2).

The race is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" race. The winner earns a starting spot in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita in November.

The six year old will be making his first start since winning the $6 million Dubai World Cup by 14 lengths on March 29.

Trainer Eoin Harty gave the gelding a four-month freshening after a long trip to Dubai and back, and the gelding proved last year he could rebound off a layoff and a trip halfway around the world.

Last March the gelding checked in third in the Dubai World Cup, and returned off a similar layoff to win the San Diego Handicap last year.

That set him up for a go in the marquee event of the Del Mar meeting, the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1), where the gelding was beaten by just a neck for the top spot by Go Between.

The son of Tiznow will carry top weight of 123 pounds and spot his rivals three to 15 pounds.

He went off at 8/5 in last year's running, and the price may be similar this year, although he is not exactly scaring away the competition.

There are six that look definite for the race, and another five or six that could bring the starting field up to between 10 and 12 starters by the time final entries are drawn.

Harty also trains the second highweight in Colonel John, who won the Travers (G1) and Santa Anita Handicap (G1) in a very productive three-year-old campaign.

The colt has not started since running fourth in the Malibu (G1) at Santa Anita last December. Harty will make a final decision on Colonel John sometime this week.

Among those considered definite for the race is the four year old filly Life Is Sweet, who took on the boys last time out in a third-place finish in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1).

She has won five of 12 lifetime starts including the Santa Margarita (G1) at Santa Anita on March 14.

Garrett Gomez is the regular rider on the filly for trainer John Shirreffs and will carry 113 pounds.

Kelly Leak is a three year old who will be facing his elders for the first time. The son of Runaway Groom will be making his first start since winning the Sunland Derby.

The colt beat Mine That Bird by 3 ¼ lengths, with the "Bird" coming back to pull off the upset in the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 2.

Hall of fame rider Mike Smith will ride the three year old for trainer Mike Machowsky.

Magnum, trained by Darrell Vienna, and Mast Track, who is conditioned by Bobby Frankel, are considered definite for the race.

Both are looking to recapture their form. Magnum has not seen the winner's circle since taking the San Antonio Handicap (G2) in February, and Mast Track is 0 for 6 since winning the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) last June.

Song of Navarone will be sent out by Walther Solis. The five year old was beating up on weaker competition at Zia Park and Sunland Park, and is 0 for 2 since coming to Southern California.

Joel Rosario will ride the son of Sultry Song, carrying 116 pounds.

Trainer Patrick Biancone has two entered, and either Allicansayiswow or Ball Four likely will start in the race.

Allicansayiswow is a four-year-old filly coming off a sharp win in a second level allowance race. She ran into the undefeated Zenyatta in her two previous starts in stakes company.

Ball Four would bring some early zip into the race. The eight-year-old gelding wired the field in the Mervyn LeRoy (G2) two back, then showed speed and weakened to finish sixth last time out in the Californian (G2).

The winner of the Californian (G2) was Informed, who is possible for this race. The Doug O'Neill trainee regressed in his last start, finishing sixth in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1).

Others possible for the race include Temple City, who beat second level allowance company and would be making his stakes debut, and Sir Dave, coming off a good second to Spring House in the Golden Gate Turf (G3).

The co-feature on an outstanding card at Del Mar is the $150,000 San Clemente Handicap (G2) for three-year-old fillies.