The San Diego Handicap has been a fixture at Del Mar for almost a century, and approaching the 82^nd edition of the race on Saturday, the race has continued to grow in importance in the older dirt male division. Just in the last 10 years, champions like California Chrome and Accelerate have aced this summer test at the seaside San Diego-area track.

The San Diego Handicap is an important race on its own but also serves as a prep for the $1 million Fanduel Pacific Classic Stakes and a steppingstone on the path to the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park. The 2023 San Diego Handicap drew a field of 10 that includes last year’s victor, Royal Ship.

1. Slow Down Andy (5-1 morning-line odds): Winless in his last three but don’t discount his chances. The Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap was a tough assignment off a seven-month layoff and he closed out 2022 with back-to-back thirds in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes and Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. A win candidate.

JOCKEY: Mario Gutierrez; TRAINER: Doug O’Neill

2. Royal Ship (6-1): He’s lost five straight since last year’s San Diego Handicap victory, including a trio of races immediately after that win in which he was well-beaten. A second-place finish in the Grade 2 Californian Stakes two starts back was much more encouraging and he seems to be at his best at Del Mar.

JOCKEY: Mike Smith; TRAINER: Richard Mandella

3. Tripoli (15-1): The 2021 Pacific Classic Stakes winner has only one allowance win (on a synthetic track) in 11 races since that Grade 1 win. He would need a pretty significant reversal of form to be a serious threat but his odds should be appealing.

JOCKEY: Tiago Josue Pereira; TRAINER: John Sadler

4. Missed the Cut (5-1): Finished second in an allowance race behind fellow San Diego contender American Admiral in his U.S. debut for trainer John Sadler. Prior to that he won four times in seven starts in Europe before running fourth in a $1.5 million turf stakes in Saudi Arabia. Strong workout July 22 indicates he could be ready to take a step forward at a nice price in his second try on dirt.

JOCKEY: Hector Berrios; TRAINER: John Sadler

5. American Admiral (6-1): Ran sixth in his stakes debut in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes in his first start of the year. Since then, he’s run well with a pair of seconds and an allowance win most recently going a mile June 11 at Santa Anita. Would need to improve significantly to be a win contender.

JOCKEY: Ramon Vazquez; TRAINER: Tim Yakteen

6. Defunded (8-5): Should be favored coming out of back-to-back wins in the Grade 2 Californian Stakes in April and the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes in May. He also earned a career-best 109 Equibase Speed Figure on this main track in a graded stakes race last November. Looks formidable here.

JOCKEY: Juan Hernandez; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

Defunded (BENOIT photo)

7. Senor Buscador (12-1): Capable of big efforts and ran his career-best Equibase Speed Figure at this distance, but was beaten by 6 ¼ lengths by Defunded in his most recent start in the Hollywood Gold Cup. A deep closer, he would benefit from a hot pace but his two starts at Del Mar leave much to be desired.

JOCKEY: Geovanni Franco; TRAINER: Todd Fincher

8. Piroli (SCRATCHED): Needed nine starts to earn his first career win but has been very effective since with three wins, one second, and one third in his last five races. Enters off a runner-up finish, a length behind Defunded, in the Hollywood Gold Cup in his stakes debut and looks like a San Diego entrant with significant upside.

JOCKEY: Kent Desormeaux; TRAINER: Michael McCarthy

9. Tisquantum (30-1): Posted clear wins at one mile in December at Del Mar and January at Santa Anita before an unplaced finish in his stakes debut in March in the Santa Anita Handicap presented by Yaamava’ Resort & Casino. Has been freshened since then and could offer some appeal as a longshot.

JOCKEY: Edwin Maldonado; TRAINER: Rolando Quinonez

10. Brickyard Ride (6-1): Probably will be the second betting choice behind Defunded. Expect jockey Umberto Rispoli to send him to the front as his best races have been primarily in sprints when leading from start to finish. Distance is a question but a 7 ½-length romp at one mile in the Tiznow Stakes in February 2022 indicates he can carry his speed. He’s an eight-time stakes winner with three graded stakes victories on his résumé. He’s also the fastest horse on paper with a career-top 114 Equibase Speed Figure, but Brickyard Ride winless in four starts at Del Mar.

JOCKEY: Umberto Rispoli; TRAINER: Craig Lewis

THE PICK: Defunded

LIVE LONGSHOT: Missed the Cut

SUPERFECTA: 6-4-1-2