The United States caters for top-class racing on the east and west coasts when the Del Mar and Saratoga meetings start this week.

Del Mar was founded by legendary crooner Bing Crosby and its 72nd season kicks off on Wednesday with the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes.

The 1600m turf contest has attracted a full field and Artie Schiller colt Mr. Commons will start favourite in the opening day feature.

Mr. Commons (3c Artie Schiller – Joustabout by Apalachee) is prepared by Zenyatta’s trainer John Shirreffs and he impressed in his only prior start on grass winning a maiden over 1100m at Santa Anita.

Switched to dirt in the hope of making an impact on the Triple Crown trail, he captured a 1600m allowance event and then finished a respectable third in the G1 Santa Anita Derby.

Mr. Commons failed to qualify for the Kentucky Derby but he did start in the Preakness Stakes only to finish among to beaten division in eighth spot.

Mike Smith, who was on board for both Santa Anita victories, will be reunited with the promising colt on Wednesday.

Mr Commons is a half-brother to North American stakes winners Jungle Fighter (Wild Rush).  Their dam Joustabout was a G1 winner of the Natalma Stakes at Woodbine.

Artie Schiller (El Prado) will return from Paul’s Mill Stud in Kentucky to Independent Stallions this year after a southern season break in 2010.  

He has sired 7 individual winners from his first Super VOBIS crop and Independent Stallions studmaster Mike Becker reports that has ensured he covers a full book this spring.  He will stand for a $13,200 service fee.

Artie Schiller was a G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner and his first Kentucky bred crop, apart from Mr Commons, includes the stakes winners Bear’s Chill and Anne’s Beauty.