Plot Gets Thicker in Wickerr

Trainer Bobby Frankel won the Eddie Read Handicap two years in a row (1981-82) with Wickerr, and the Hall of Famer may be able to win the race named after the veteran, who in 1982, defeated, among others, Spence Bay and 129-pound highweight Perrault. Thady Quill is the 3-1 second choice in today’s Wickerr, which will be run at one mile on turf. Owned by Gary Seidler, Thady Quill, a 4-year-old son of Nureyev, hasn’t run since winning back-to-back races on the Santa Anita grass in January. Frankel, however, is extremely dangerous with horses returning from layoffs and the chestnut is proven off the bench. He hadn’t run since May 5, 2000 before his first victory at Santa Anita on Jan. 6. The other entrants in the field are Touch Of The Blues, the 7-5 favorite who will be reunited with Gary Stevens after his 13-10 failure in the American Handicap on July 4 at Hollywood Park, consistent California-bred Spinelessjellyfish, who gave jockey Chris McCarron his 7,000th career victory, Big Ten, Lonesome Dude, King Slayer, Sumati and Lesters Boy.

Race of the day: The most attractive race from a wagering standpoint is the sixth, a six-furlong dash for older claimers running for a $32,000 tag. Half of the 12 entrants ran either 1-2 in their most recent start and two of the participants--Chaffee’s Prospect and Fortifier--are two-time winners at Del Mar. It looks like a race with few throw-outs and the price should be right no matter what horse you settle on.

Who’s hot: Garrett Gomez and Martin Pedroza. After going winless the first six days of the meet, both riders broke through Wednesday. Gomez won the third with 17-10 second choice Hot Kitty and Pedroza won the finale with 5-1 choice Acts Like A Winner.

Who’s not: Salish Bull, Timely Stitch, Media Beach and Northern Johnny. The four veterans, who will run in today’s third race, a $10,000 claimer at a flat mile, are winless in a combined 51 races since the start of 2000.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using all in the sixth, Thady Quill and Touch Of The Blues in the seventh and singling Brooklyn Road in the eighth.