The GIII Bob Hope Stakes, which was postponed from last Sunday to Nov. 21, has now been cancelled entirely after attracting just three entrants, according to a report in Daily Racing Form.
“It's disappointing, obviously, to not have a stakes race go, which is extremely rare here,” Del Mar's racing secretary David Jerkens told DRF's Brad Free. “It's a dose of reality with 2-year-olds on the dirt right now. It's been a frustrating category all summer.”
Ten juveniles were nominated for the Bob Hope, including Bob Baffert trainees Boyd (Violence), Buetane (Tiz the Law)–both 'TDN Rising Stars presented by Hagyard,'–and Desert Gate (Omaha Beach), as well as the Doug O'Neill-trained Acknowledgemeplz (Bucchero).
Southern California's graded races for juveniles drew slim fields all summer. The GIII Best Pal S. in August at Del Mar attracted five runners, the GI Del Mar Futurity in September drew six, and the GI American Pharoah Stakes in October at Santa Anita fielded six.
“We're dealing with a very limited pool of 2-year-old winners,” Jerkens told Free.
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