Tipsheet: 2026 Bob Hope Stakes
Del Mar Grandstand before Breeders' Cup (Photo by Horsephotos.com)
A cast of seven juveniles will travel seven-eighths over the Del Mar dirt in Saturday’s $100,000 Bob Hope S.
2026 Bob Hope Stakes Picks
- #7 Kivo
- #4 Domus
- #1 Sip It
2026 Bob Hope Stakes Wagers
2026 Bob Hope Stakes Contenders
#1 SIP IT: First of five in the field for trainer Doug O’Neil,l showed marked improvement the second time out when graduating on the local lawn last time and gets a look for a top-three finish under Kimura. The chestnut son of good young sire Greatest Honour recorded a swift five furlongs from the gate on the course recently and will be a threat with another step forward.
#2 FRACTIOUS: Volatile colt put in a strong late run to graduate at Santa Anita in his second outing and will make his stakes debut for O’Neill. The two-year-old chestnut is not very good from the gate at this stage of his development, but the $95,000 yearling purchase has a big closing kick and will be passing runners late beneath Rosario.
#3 DATS IMPOSSIBLE: Improbable colt will make his first run for O’Neill shipping in from Laurel Park. The bay was a big first-out winner at Timonium on Sept. 7 prior to a stakes fourth last time, and he will need a big move in the right direction to upset the cast in his local bow. Umberto Rispoli picks up the mount.
#4 DOMUS: First of two from the mighty Baffert barn has been outrun in a pair of Grade 1 tries in succession and will race with blinkers off for the initial time. The Uncle Mo homebred was a fine debut winner on the surface in his unveiling, and he will be a major player if the equipment change helps. Juan Hernandez will be in the irons and putting this youngster into the race from the break.
#5 DANG SON: $250,000 son of Good Magic broke his maiden on the lawn three back and has been outclassed in a pair of subsequent ties on the dirt in the Grade-1 ranks. The February foal will appreciate the class relief in the heat and is expected to be running from off the pace with Kyle Frey in the irons.
#6 HIGH PRONTO: Dark bay son of Hightail moves back to the main surface following a stakes run on the green in his latest venture for O’Neill. The January foal broke his maiden at Del Mar and will be forcing the pace from the break, with Edwin Maldonado taking the reins.
#7 KIVO: Top pick is the second of two major threats in the dash for Baffert and was last seen pulling away to a smart maiden win in his dirt bow at Santa Anita on Oct. 11. The $350,000 Omaha Beach yearling earned a solid 89 Brisnet Speed rating in his tally and has posted a trio of swift morning moves in the interim, as well. Emisael Jaramillo will be in the saddle and will have the colt stalking the pace from the second flight early on.
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