El Don Might Be a Real Good Deal

After having more than seven months between his second and third starts, El Don hasn’t had any time to waste in returning to the races for trainer Marty Jones in today’s $100,000 Real Good Deal Stakes at Del Mar.

Less than two weeks after he won by four lengths as the even-money favorite in a $54,000 allowance, the 3-year-old Cee’s Tizzy gelding is being wheeled back in the seven-furlong Real Good Deal.

Owned and bred by John Harris and Don Valpredo, El Don had been sidelined with an injury after breaking his maiden by two lengths in his second race Dec. 13 at Hollywood Park.

His comeback race couldn’t have been more impressive as he won under jockey Mike Smith. In the Real Good Deal, he will face four other California breds, including 125-pound high weight Don’tsellmeshort.

A gray son of Benchmark owned by Cecil Peacock and trained by Dan Hendricks, Don’tsellmeshort has earned more money ($382,395) than the rest of the field combined while winning four of 13.

In two starts at Del Mar as a 2-year-old, Don’tsellmeshort won the Graduation Stakes by three lengths, then was second, beaten by a nose, as the 3-2 favorite in the I’m Smokin.

Race of the day: Yell, who is winless in her last five starts, cuts to six furlongs against other fillies and mares in today’s $150,000 Honorable Miss Handicap at Saratoga. John Velazquez will ride Yell, a 4-year-old A.P. Indy filly who has won four of 15, in the Grade II.

One for the road: Garavogue tries better for high-percentage trainer Allen Iwinski and switches to the turf -- a surface for which she is bred -- in today’s seventh at Saratoga. The 3-year-old Daylami filly will have five rivals in the $50,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Spirited in the third, No Time To Lose and Gambol Goldfish in the fourth and Silent Exploit and Proud General in the fifth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/31. Money: Previous day/meet total: $11.20/$174.60. Total money bet: $238.