DEL MAR : Great Communicator Tops Field of 9 in Escondido ‘Cap

A field of nine headed by Great Communicator, the leading money-winning horse now in competition, has been entered in Saturday’s $75,000-added Escondido Handicap at Del Mar.

Great Communicator will be ridden by Ray Sibille and was assigned high weight of 119 pounds for the 37th running of the 1 3/8-mile race on Del Mar’s turf course.

Great Communicator, a 7-year-old son of Key To The Kingdom, has won 13 of 51 lifetime starts with 10 second-place finishes and seven third-place finishes, for earnings of $2,872,215. Great Communicator became the leading money winner among active horses with the recent retirements of Easy Goer and Sunday Silence.

Great Communicator is in the midst of a comeback, having made only one start this year. That came July 21 in an allowance race at 1 1/16 mile on Hollywood Park’s turf course, in which he finished fifth. Before that, he hadn’t raced in nine months.

All but one of Great Communicator’s victories, and all but about $14,000 of his earnings, have been compiled running on turf.

His biggest victory came Nov. 5, 1988, when he scored a 12-to-1 upset in the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs.

Others entered in Saturday’s race were Valdali, who will be ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye and was assigned 116 pounds; Lowell, Rafael Meza, 114 pounds; Colson, Patrick Valenzuela, 114 pounds; River Warden, Russell Baze, 113 pounds; Mashkour, Alex Solis, 113 pounds; Rial, J. M. Fernandez, 112 pounds; Miserden, David Flores, 111 pounds, and Law Journal, Omar Berrio, 107 pounds.

If all nine entries go to the post, the total purse will be $82,525 and the winner will earn $47,775.

Valdali is an Irish-bred by Darshaan who has finished in the top three in seven of his nine starts.

Lowell is a Kentucky-bred son of General Holme who raced in France as a 2-year-old and 3-year-old. The now 4-year-old has twice been fourth and twice third in four U.S. attempts.

Colson has won eight races and more than $170,000 in his career. The French-bred by Saint Cyrien has done all of his winning in Europe and is still looking for his first U.S. victory.

River Warden is a double winner looking for his initial victory of the year. The colt by Riverman races out of the Charlie Whittingham stable.

Mashkour has won nine races and more than $365,000.