For years, Santa Anita played host to its annual Strub Series every winter. Consisting of the Malibu Stakes, San Fernando Stakes and Strub Stakes, all three races were run at different distances on the main track in a matter of only a few weeks. Really, the Strub Series consisted of a schedule not unlike that of the Triple Crown.

In its long history, the Strub Series was captured by only five horses, which demonstrated the rarity of the achievement. Being a Strub Series champion required being a strong, all-around horse.

Down in San Diego County, Del Mar has what is perhaps a less heralded series of its own. This one is open only to three-year-olds, and the races involved are the Oceanside Stakes, La Jolla Handicap and Del Mar Derby. All three of these races are on turf, but there was a time when only the Del Mar Derby was contested on grass.

While all three races are no less than a mile in the present day, the Oceanside Stakes was at one point a sprint. And going back to 1945 when the Del Mar Derby first became part of the stakes schedule, only one horse has swept all three races.

When he stepped into the starting gate for the 1974 Oceanside Stakes, Lightning Mandate was no stranger to Del Mar. Winning on debut there the summer before, the California-bred colt went into the Oceanside undefeated in four starts. He was also proven at six furlongs, having taken his first three starts at that distance.

Reunited with jockey Alvaro Pineda on July 27, who had piloted the Mandate colt in both Del Mar starts in 1973, Lightning Mandate made it three straight scores over the main track and four consecutive wins at three-quarters of a mile. That set up the Farrell Jones charge for his next start in the August 11 La Jolla Mile.

By this point in his career, Lightning Mandate had obviously been more of a sprinter, but he did own a win at one mile at Hollywood Park. He returned to eight furlongs in the La Jolla, which was also on the Del Mar dirt. Teaming up with Pineda again, the result matched that from a fortnight earlier. At odds-on like he had been in the Oceanside, Lightning Mandate successfully navigated the route as he raised his winning streak to six. Still undefeated on the main track by the beach, Lightning Mandate's next start offered two new challenges: a surface switch and a longer distance.

That third start of the meet happened on August 25. Long held at a mile and one-eighth, the Del Mar Derby was held on the track's turf course. Between visits to Del Mar and Hollywood Park, Lightning Mandate had never been acquainted with the grass surface at either venue. What's more, he had yet to race further than a mile in his career.

But Lightning Mandate proved ready for both assignments. Taking on Within Hail again after beating him in the La Jolla, Lightning Mandate prevailed over his rival once more as he handled the turf and nine furlongs to sweep those trio of races at Del Mar. A half-century later in 2024, no other horse has been able to take all three of those summer races.

For many years now, the Oceanside and La Jolla have long been staples of turf course racing at Del Mar. Moreover, the distances for both races have increased over time. And those facts makes Lightning Mandate's achievement back in 1974 all the more impressive. In under one month, he captured a sprint and two races at a mile or longer, and won races on both the dirt and turf. It was truly a display of versatility and talent, and it stands as one of the more unique accomplishments in Del Mar history.

Lightning Mandate might not be remembered among the all-time great Cal-breds in the present day, but there is no question he was among the top stars at Del Mar in the summer of 1974 thanks to his amazing sweep by the beach.