With major Grade 1 races coming up at Del Mar on this year’s calendar such as the FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic Stakes and the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Saturday’s Grade 2 San Diego Handicap will serve as a key prep race on the Del Mar main track and an important chance for six high-quality older horses to establish themselves as serious contenders in this dirt male division.

1. Express Train (3-1 morning-line odds): He is making a comeback now as a 7-year-old after taking the entire 2023 year off. Got a sprint prep race under his belt last time when third behind the likes of The Chosen Vron and Happy Jack in the Kona Gold Stakes at Santa Anita, and he now is ready for this stretch out to a much more appropriate 1 1/16-mile distance. A five-time graded stakes winner with a Grade 1 victory to his credit, Express Train was the winner of this race in 2021 as one of his three lifetime wins at Del Mar. He’s a definite threat if ready to roll in the second start of his comeback. In addition to winning this race in 2021, trainer John Shirreffs also won the San Diego Handicap back in 2006 with Giacomo when teaming up with jockey Mike Smith.

JOCKEY: Mike Smith; TRAINER: John Shirreffs

2. Katonah (15-1): He is returning from a year layoff and facing a tough assignment under those circumstances in the San Diego Handicap. Katonah was last seen on the racetrack posting back-to-back wins versus lesser company in the summer of 2023. He eventually may prove to have the ability at this kind of a class level, but it’s highly questionable in this Grade 2 spot with no prep race in his return from the sidelines. Trainer Doug O’Neill has started plenty of horses in this race but he has won it only once with Informed in 2009.

JOCKEY: Tiago J. Pereira; TRAINER: Doug O’Neill

3. Dr. Venkman (9-2): He began his career last summer with two convincing wins here at Del Mar. Based on that, he earned a trip to Keeneland for his third career race last fall and just missed by a head in a $235,000 stakes race at seven furlongs. Following an extended layoff, Dr. Venkman returned June 1 with a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Triple Bend Stakes behind Happy Jack. All career starts so far have been at 6 ½ furlongs or seven furlongs, so even if you believe he can handle the class test against this field, he still has to prove he is the same quality racehorse at this distance. The San Diego handicap will be his first route race and first attempt around two turns.

JOCKEY: Antonio Fresu; TRAINER: Mark Glatt

4. Arabian Knight (3-5): This is another entrant in this field who must overcome a significant layoff and is an X-factor based on the time off between races. His near-term goal undoubtedly is the $1 million Pacific Classic, not this race. Arabian Knight is already a Grade 1 winner on this racetrack with a victory in last year’s Pacific Classic and he finished a very respectable fourth in the 2023 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic in his most recent race, so he should be able to beat this field in terms of both class and speed figures. The only question is whether or not Arabian Knight can give an “A” effort in the San Diego Handicap or if it is simply a prep race where he is pointing for next time and therefore vulnerable Saturday. It’s hard not to like his chances, but he’s not a sure thing and his odds will be low. Trainer Bob Baffert wins at a high percentage at every level every summer at Del Mar and has won this race on two prior occasions with Maximum Security in 2020 and with Fed Biz in 2014. Jockey Juan Hernandez won this race in 2021 aboard Express Train.

JOCKEY: Juan Hernandez; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

5. Newgrange (6-1): Unseen in 4 ½ months since flopping in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap presented by Yaamava’ Resort & Casino, a race that also was this horse’s low point in 2023. With the exception of those two Big ’Cap efforts, however, Newgrange has been a consistent and reliable in-the-money finisher in tough spots like this one, including consecutive wins in the 2023 and 2024 editions of the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

JOCKEY: Kazushi Kimura; TRAINER: Phil D’Amato

6. Subsanador (SCRATCHED): Quietly competitive at the top levels of competition since arriving in Southern California in December after beginning his career in his native Argentina. Subsanador was soundly beaten by Newgrange in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes in his U.S. debut but then showed his potential when just missing by a head when second in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap in March. Unfortunately, he could not maintain that positive momentum when fourth most recently in the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup. His best chance seems to be when he’s able to race on or close to the pace in an attempt to use his speed to his advantage, but that scenario looks unlikely here because he does not appear fast enough to race with Arabian Knight on the early pace and still have something left for the stretch run. Trainer Richard Mandella has won this race twice, first with Catch a Flight in 2015 and then with Royal Ship in 2022.

JOCKEY: Hector Isaac Berrios; TRAINER: Richard Mandella

THE PICK: Arabian Knight

LIVE LONGSHOT: Express Train

SUPERFECTA: 4-1-5-3