DEL MAR, Calif. – The only mistake made by 2-year-old Boltage was losing his dirt-sprint debut before he romped in a maiden turf mile. Endlessly, meanwhile, is undefeated after one start at the same trip. The colts meet Sunday in the Grade 3 Del Mar Juvenile Turf, and if final time was the only yardstick for the mile stakes, Boltage would be a cinch. Boltage won his maiden race in 1:37.20, more than a second faster than the 1:38.33 by Endlessly. Given the discrepancy in time and figures – Boltage earned a 64 Beyer Speed Figure, Endlessly earned a mere 47 – the betting market could make Boltage favored. That might be a mistake. :: DRF's 2023 Del Mar headquarters: Previews, past performances, picks, recaps, news, and more. Boltage and Endlessly top the Del Mar Juvenile Turf, which became a graded race last year. When the race is run Sunday for the 12th time, none of the other entrants compare to the two choices. Five are maidens, another won a maiden-claiming dirt sprint, another makes his U.S. debut off a modest allowance win in Ireland. The Juvenile Turf seems like a two-horse race. Richard Mandella trains Boltage, a puzzling sixth in his debut on dirt. Mandella chalks it up to surface. “I thought he’d run better the first time,” Mandella said. “But I’ve always thought he was going to like the turf. Just watching him train, always had that feeling.” Second time out, Mandella moved Boltage to grass. The son of Bolt d’Oro ran them off their feet. He pressed a hot pace (22.00 seconds and 46.21), opened up on the far turn, and was gone. He won by more than five lengths over Glandford, who will try Boltage again Sunday. The challenges facing Boltage on Sunday are wheeling back 18 days after his maiden victory and a slow come-home time partly due to the fast pace. Boltage, whose rider is Ramon Vazquez, ran his first half-mile in 46.21 and his second half in 50.82. The slow finish did not matter against maidens. It might matter in a stakes, though horse-to-horse comparison is difficult. The maiden race won by Endlessly unfolded entirely different. Michael McCarthy trains Endlessly, who pressed a soft pace and exploded late. He ran his opening half in 48.82, his second half in 49.52, more than a second faster than Boltage. Endlessly “did everything right,” McCarthy said. “He trained like he was a grass horse through and through. Seems like he’s a pretty nice horse.” A simple comment by an understated trainer can speak volumes, which might be the case with McCarthy and Endlessly, an Oscar Performance colt whose rider is Juan Hernandez. McCarthy also starts stakes-supplement Lord Bullington and Sea Singer, who would be the first foreign shipper to win the Del Mar Juvenile Turf. “He’s had a couple decent works over the grass and dirt and acts like he’s got some ability,” McCarthy said referring to Sea Singer. “First time in America, you never know until you lead them over there. He’s right behind Endlessly in the morning.” Antonio Fresu rides Sea Singer. Others in the field include Andreadytorumble, Osage Creek, maiden-claiming winner Des Doigts, and Bear River. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.