You could have missed Del Mar's opening day without really missing anything. The Oceanside races had a number of respectable runners, particularly in the first division, which ironically ended up the slower. The 2010 Oceanside did showcase Twirling Candy, but the race restrictions against stakes winners in the Oceanside tend to have the effect of creating what looks like your typical overnight stake, but for 3-year-olds only. As for the rest of the card, two of the three non claimers or maiden claimers were for Cal-breds, and the other was at 5f on the turf, reducing its likely relevance.
If a good horse emerges from the card, it could be Ballard Ruler, who was a good ways the best taking a 2-year-old Cal-bred maiden special weight. In fact, he looked better than most of the open 2-year-old winners I've seen in California this year. Then Lakerville, the winner of the previously disparaged turf sprint, is now 3 for 4 with a 2nd. Running at 5f yesterday, he doesn't seem on the path to a stretch-out, but given my study of come-from-behind horses often transitioning to distance races well, and the distance-possible sire, Unusual Heat, I wonder why he isn't.
I just think Del Mar's management missed the boat with this card (even though Boat Trip was the favorite in the first Oceanside). When I see cards like this on special occasions, such as on the opening day of one of the year's premier meets, I just feel like the management doesn't understand racing, and sees it as mere facilitation of betting. The impression is that the quality of racing didn't even cross management's mind, or maybe that they don't understand what good racing is.
I look at opening days the way families and companies might look at having very important guests visiting. You're on display, and you should showcase the best product. If you're not going to run a couple of graded stakes, at least put some thought into the card, rather than giving the impression it's the product of a random-race generator.
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