Horse Racing News by Steve Andersen

In the days leading up to Saturday's $150,000 Oak Tree Derby at Santa Anita, trainer Mike Pender said that his longshot Ultimate Eagle had "a bolt of confidence" from two consecutive wins at Del Mar.

The closer the calendar gets to November, the more the outlook on the season changes for the people surrounding the unbeaten 2-year-old filly Weemissfrankie.

Coil, the winner of the Grade 1 Haskell at Monmouth in July, will make his stakes debut against older horses in Saturday's Grade 1, $250,000 Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita, trainer Bob Baffert said Tuesday.

The closing day of the Del Mar meeting next Wednesday is fast approaching, and the looming date keeps jockey Joe Talamo from peeking at the jockey standings.

Already proven on turf, Acclamation added California's richest race for older horses to his list of accomplishments with a front-running win in Sunday's $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

Trainer Bob Baffert spent most of August admiring The Factor as the colt prepared for a comeback after a four-month break.

The race strategy for Celtic New Year in Sunday's $200,000 Del Mar Handicap was to try to lead throughout the turf marathon over 1 3/8 miles on turf.

A photo finish finally went in favor of Caracortado in Saturday's $200,000 Del Mar Mile.

The $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Sunday will be a day out for the boys.

Jockey Tyler Baze has attended counseling for alcoholism and has signed an agreement for alcohol testing with the California Horse Racing Board in the aftermath of a failed Breathalyzer test at Del Mar last Friday, according to Del Mar stewards.