Indecise, Istanford get class relief

DEL MAR, Calif. – A drop in class could be the tonic on Thursday for Indecise or Istanford, both of whom have been facing stakes runners lately but are moving into a classified allowance race in search of an overdue victory in Del Mar’s featured seventh race.

Indecise has raced just twice in the 18 months since her last victory. Now 6, her career has had several interruptions, limiting her to just 12 starts. Her form from earlier this year makes her the one to beat in the one-mile grass race for older females.

Istanford won both of her starts on the turf here last summer but is winless in five starts since. A grass race earlier at this meet in which she was entered was moved to the main track when a freak storm hit the area. She disappointed, so she’s back on the turf this time.

Also of interest on the card is race 5, where Admiral Jaxon makes his first start since being hopelessly left July 26 when the gate opened before he was even loaded. He was declared a non-starter but somehow managed to finish fifth of nine in a maiden-claiming race while in for a $40,000 tag. He’s in for $62,500 on Thursday and moves to turf for the first time.

The eight-race program gets under way at 2:05 p.m. Pacific.

KEY CONTENDERS

Indecise (Last 3 Beyers: 91-93-90) She was a close fourth in the Grade 3 Wilshire last time out at Santa Anita after just missing in the Wishing Well in her first start in more than a year. This appears to be an easier spot, but it is her first time over the Del Mar turf.

Istanford (Last 3 Beyers: 81-83-73) A return to the turf will be of benefit to her, as she struggled over the dirt last time when finishing fourth of five in the off-the-turf Osunitas Stakes. The distance and surface are right in her wheelhouse, as both of her wins last year on this course – in the San Clemente and Sandy Blue – were at a flat mile.

Famous Alice (Last 3 Beyers: 90-86-75) As with Indecise and Istanford, she is taking a class drop from her most recent start, the Royal Heroine, in which she finished fifth behind Fanticola and Queen of The Sand, who are among the leading contenders for the Grade 2 John C. Mabee on Saturday. She beat a slightly softer allowance field in her race prior when she had some pace to run into, a situation she did not get in the Royal Heroine.