With expected heavy favorite Danzing Candy (Twirling Candy) injured and retired, Saturday's GII Pat O'Brien S. at Del Mar, which offers a guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, got significantly easier.
Trainer John Sadler will be represented by a formidable pair of uncoupled runners. Blameitonthelaw (Blame), third in the 2015 GI Del Mar Futurity, returned from a freshening with a sharp optional claiming tally here July 21. Moe Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}) was carried out very wide by the riderless Drefong (Gio Ponti) and reported home a solid third in the GI Bing Crosby S. July 29.
Denman's Call (Northern Afleet), upset winner of the GI Triple Bend S. in March, looks to get back on track following a trio of subsequent disappointing efforts. Silent Bird (Summer Bird) strung together five-straight victories at the end of last year into the beginning of this one, but has been off since a fourth-place run in the Triple Bend.
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