HORSE RACING

TODAY AT DEL MAR

By Richard Eng

Post Time 2 p.m.

Race 1 - 1 mile, Purse $16,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds and up

Dazzling Razz - Logical chalk ran well when stretched out around 2-turns; should enjoy today's slower pace.

Manofgold - Third start off a 2-month hiatus; showed improvement when stretched out around 2-turns 3 races ago.

Long Shot - Bustanai

Race 2 - 5 furlongs (turf), Purse $54,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

Get Funky - Keep an eye on the jockey race between Rafael Bejarano and Joel Rosario; both are pulling out all the stops.

Connagher - Has threaded 3 nice wins in a row; shown equal ability on turf or synthetics, saves all the ground tonight.

Long Shot - Square Deal

Race 3 - 1 mile, Purse $57,000, Optional claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

American Story - Don't usually like MSW grads facing winners for the first time; loved the profesional way that she rallied.

Money Lover - Second start off a 2-month hiatus; has good tactical speed to lead or follow from the get go.

Long Shot - Lava Girl

Race 4 - 1 1/16th miles (turf), $150,000 Palomar Handicap, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Gotta Have Her - Logical chalk in a tight fit 5-pack; this will be a real cat and mouse game among the jockeys.

Lilly Fa Pootz - The maestro Jerry Hollendorfer has an uncoupled entry in a 5-horse field; did everything but win the Mabee.

Long Shot - Prytania

Race 5 - 6 furlongs, Purse $50,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Lea the Punisher - She ran a winning race in her career debut when second; if she improves one step, she'll be tough.

Saratoga Fling - Thoroughbred Legends is a partnership among trainers Bob Baffert, Nick Zito and D. Wayne Lukas.

Long Shot - Rote

Race 6 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $16,000, Claiming $8,000, 4-year-olds and up

Skellytown - When Mike Mitchell gets them good, they stay good; showed what he can do with a clear trip in last.

Joe Carl - Claimed by Doug O'Neill who will win the Del Mar trainer title; has the back class to run a lot better.

Long Shot - Lucius Antonius

Race 7 - 6 furlongs, Purse $50,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds

Shane Daniel - Logical chalk has lost 2 photo finishes in a row; Doug O'Neill adding blinkers on for this.

Woodmans Luck - Colt has teased his ability but remains a maiden; Rafael Bejarano remains loyal to the cause.

Long Shot - He Be Fire N Ice

Race 8 - 6 furlongs, $100,000 I'm Smokin, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds

Bench Points - He's beaten a lot of these in his last two wins; could develop into a very nice Cal-bred.

Stormin Rae - Two losses to Bench Points sandwich a smashing MSW win; could upset if he shows with his A game.

Long Shot - Joy Boy

Race 9 - 1 mile, Purse $29,000m, Claiming $20,000, 4-year-olds and up

Exclamation - This looks like a kitchen sink race; lots of horses dropping down in class thrown into the same pot.

Capture the Call - Tepid chalk in a wide open race; wouldn't doubt if the result leads to one more pick 6 carryover.

Long Shot - No Dream

Race 10 - 1 1/16th miles (turf), Purse $52,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Russian River - Should draw in from the also eligible list; the choice of Rafael Bejarano is she goes, that's enough for me.

Dubawi Heights - Tepid chalk in another wide open affair; saves off the ground in her U.S. debut, been away 10-months.

Long Shot - Megaspiel

Best Bet - Bench Points (race 8)

Del Mar Sunday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 17/5/$22.60; Long Shots, 10/2/$26.60; Best Bet, 1/1/$2.40

Del Mar Totals - 578/143/$624.40; Long Shots, 288/45/$460.60; Best Bets, 34/14/$61.80

SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - #6 Unbridled Praise (5/2) in race 11 at Monmouth Park. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Back to Therapy won at Monmouth Park paying $4.40 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.20 to show. Stats - 162/116/$876.40