Horse Racing: Today at Del Mar, Aug. 29

Post Time 2:05 p.m.
Race 1 – 1 1/8th miles (turf, rail at 18 feet), Purse $72,000, Optional claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
1 Sweet as a Rose – Lost rider at the start last time; lots of horseplayers draw a line thru that, I do the opposite and boost these horses up a notch or two.
4 Halljoy – Logical chalk in a very difficult opener; ran a cropper in last but the two prior races before that are fast enough to beat these today.
Long Shot – 2 Causeway Carolyn
Race 2 – 5 ½ furlongs, Purse $70,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds
7 Tough It Out – FTS from the highly regarded Philip D’Amato barn; your edge over me will be in seeing the betting action on this newcomer.
5 Scatastic – Of the ones with experience, his resume looks best; there are four FTS but this one has already run fast enough to win at this level.
Long Shot – 6 Cee the Preacher
Race 3 – 1 mile, $100,000 El Cajon, 3-year-olds
6 Gimme Da Lute – If this race is not a trainer Bob Baffert exacta, then you have blown up the tote board; this colt has really developed nicely this season.
1 Fame and Power – This colt would be a first string 3-YO in a lot of barn, but not this one; clearly a second level stakes winner for Bob Baffert.
Long Shot – 2 Iron Fist
Race 4 – 5 ½ furlongs, Purse $70,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds
6 Record Highs – FTS was made the morning line favorite; the key had to be a last out bullet work and possible positive clocker reports.
4 Buff Dude – You will have a big edge over me as this 2-YO is among six FTS in the field; a dart throw from my perch, but you’ll see the tote board action.
Long Shot – 3 Speedin With Eddie
Race 5 – 5 furlongs (turf, rail at 18 feet), Purse $72,000, Allowance, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up
5 Global Magician – If you have been reading my comments over the years, you know how much I like cutback horses; this one turns back from two 2-turn turf routes.
3 Oil – Figures to try to be the speed of the speed tonight; this is his debut on turf, so I am taking a leap of faith that he’ll handle the firm going.
Long Shot – 4 Law Dog
Race 6 – 5 ½ furlongs, Purse $31,000, Claiming $16,000, 3-year-olds
2 One More Roll – Lets’ try trainer Chuck Treece to repeat a visit to the winner’s circle; there is plenty of gas in the field so his stalking style could work out.
10 Mydancingshadow – I don’t often go for horses that just graduated; it’s a big step up in class to face winners for the first time, however this is a watered down group.
Long Shot – 1 Justonemorething
Race 7 – 6 furlongs, Purse $22,000, Claiming $16,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
10 Little But Lucky – This may be the hardest race on the card; between those dropping in class and others moving forward, they meet in this colossal event.
12 Gold Journey – Tepid chalk in an incredibly wide open affair; the fact she has finished in the money in 8-of-12 lifetime starts is a pretty good resume.
Long Shot – 3 Shallot
Race 8 – 6 ½ furlongs, Purse $70,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds
4 Semper Fortis – Of the few with race experience, this one looks best by far; showed good early speed and was a daylight 14-lengths ahead of the third place finisher.
6 Who’s Out – Key to this choice is he was an 8/5 post time favorite from the maestro Jerry Hollendorfer; she popped and fizzed, but should improve if talent is real.
Long Shot – 3 Street Vision
Race 9 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 18 feet), Purse $72,000, Optional claiming $80,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds
1 Miss Boom Boom – Like the rail post at a 2-turn mile on turf or dirt; Rafael Bejarano will be able to save all the ground and thus energy.
4 Holograeme – Was making up good ground in last albeit too late; has shown more tactical speed if Tyler Baze wants to sit closer with the turf rail out 18 feet.
Long Shot – 5 Sweet
Race 10 – 6 furlongs, Purse $70,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
12 Parasail – One among six FTS in this finale field; has been working bullets throughout the summer, watch for the first betting flash for early backing.
7 Soul Flyer – Ran well in first race in more than a year; as long as she does not regress she will be right there again, maybe a winner with one step of improvement.
Long Shot – 8 Don’t Tell Judy
Best Bet - 6 Gimme Da Lute (race 3)
Del Mar Friday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 14/4/$22.60; Long Shots, 7/1/$5.80; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Del Mar Totals - 540/130/$875.20; Long Shots, 267/36/$445.00; Best Bets, 31/12/$52.00
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #6 Neck of the Moon (3/1) in race 3 at Saratoga. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, True Bet won at Saratoga paying $7.80 to win, $4.10 to place and $3.20 to show. Stats - 127/88/$675.90; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick