Turf, surf, and sunshine are the main themes when Del Mar opens its summer season on Friday, July 21. Four of the five opening-weekend stakes are on grass; below is an early preview. Friday, July 21 is opening day; Del Mar’s traditional first-day feature is the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes, a restricted race for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf. Phil D’Amato trains five of the 24 nominees including comeback stakes winner Classical Cat and stretch-sprint stakes winner Conclude. Stakes winner Game Time and improving allowance winner Escape Artist also are expected to start. Del Mar turf is generally kind to late-runners; the most recent Oceanside winner to lead at every call was My Best Brother in 2012. Though it was once customary for the Oceanside to be run in multiple divisions, the race has not been split since 2013. It was won recently by subsequent Grade 1 winners Hit the Road (2020) and Bowies Hero(2017). The Oceanside is the first in a three-race summer turf series for 3-year-olds. It precedes the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap Aug. 6, and Grade 2 Del Mar Derby Sept. 3. :: DRF's 2023 Del Mar headquarters: Previews, past performances, picks, recaps, news, and more. Saturday, July 22 is the first graded stakes of the meet – the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes for 3-year-old turf fillies at one mile. The 33 nominees include graded winners Comanche Country, Paris Secret, and Window Shopping. Stakes winner Justique, sibling to Grade 1 turf winner Mo Town, would be racing on turf for the first time. The San Clemente is the first of two graded stakes for 3-year-old turf fillies; the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks is Aug. 19. Since 2000, Evening Jewel is only San Clemente winner to win the Del Mar Oaks. The July 22 supporting feature is the $100,000 Osunitas Stakes, a restricted turf mile for fillies and mares. Nominees include graded stakes-winning sprinter Elm Drive and Grade 1-placed sprinter Awake at Midnyte. Graded winner Canoodling and stakes winner Warrens Candy Girl, a four-time winner on the Del Mar turf, are among the 28 nominees. :: Visit the Del Mar Handicapping Store for Past Performances, Clocker Reports, Picks, Betting Strategies, and more. Sunday, July 23 is the meet’s first dirt stakes – the Grade 3 Cougar II Stakes at a mile and one-half. The nine nominees include Grade 2 winner/Grade 1-placed Royal Ship and Grade 3 winner Azul Coast. The Cougar II will be run on the 50-year anniversary of the final victory by the horse the race is named for. Cougar II, a Chilean import trained by Charlie Whittingham later inducted into the Hall of Fame, scored his 20th and final victory in the Grade 1 Sunset Handicap at Hollywood Park on July 23, 1973. Small fields are normal for the Cougar II. Since the race moved from synthetic to dirt in 2015, average field size is 5.7. The July 23 supporting feature is the $100,000 Wickerr, a restricted turf mile for 3-year-olds and up. Nominees include multiple Grade 1 winner Count Again, who could run in the Wickerr or wait for the Grade 1 Eddie Read Stakes on July 30. Others nominated to the Wickerr includegraded stakes-winning sprinter Brickyard Ride, a speedsterwho will be nominated to the Grade 2 San Diego, a dirt route on July 29. The Wickerr often produces high payoffs. Recent winners include Calimonco, $43.40 in 2011, Lil Bit O’Fun, $43.60 in 2014, Double Touch, $60.80 in 2018, and Ibero, $65.00 in 2022. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.