Horse Racing: Today at Del Mar, August 5
Post Time 2:05 p.m.
Race 1 – 5 furlongs (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $58,000, Claiming $50,000, 3-year-olds and up
8 U S Citizen – Claimed by trainer Bob Hess who spots him well to win first out for new barn; like that he hires top rider Rafael Bejarano.
2 Pat the Bear – Had one race in a turf sprint and ran a game second; another angle was it was in an O/C $80K level, much lower than today.
Long Shot – 4 Embellishing Bob
Race 2 – 7 furlongs, Purse $22,000, Claiming $10,000, 3-year-olds and up
5 Memphis – Sliding down the claiming ladder to this new lowest level; he’s got a lot of back class speed figures to run back too.
9 Justification – Moves up the class ladder off a fast closing fourth; James Graham hasn’t made a dent yet, but he’s a known talented rider.
Long Shot – 6 Congregationalist
Race 3 – 1 mile, Purse $29,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up
1 Book Thirty Four – Sliding down the claiming ladder to this much lower class; the Doug O’Neill barn has had a festival of sorts this meet too.
8 Proud Captive – Taken by Gary Stute out of a maiden claiming win; facing winners for the first time is a steep class rise.
Long Shot – 6 Market Notes
Race 4 – 1 1/16th miles (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $39,000, Maiden claiming $62,500, 3-year-olds and up
9 Ya Ya Girl – The key for me is her speed figure two races ago, albeit in the hillside turf sprint, is fast enough to win this tough heat.
1 Key Drama – Tyler Baze has a chance to sit a cozy rail trip and save all the ground; this is not an overly ambitious group either.
Long Shot – 7 Autumn Flower
Race 5 – 6 ½ furlongs, Purse $70,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
8 Lily Pod – Did everything but win her debut in a blanket finish; she has a lot of reasons to improve second time out for Richard Baltas.
1 Explicable – Gets the rail in this elongated sprint; has shown speed to lead, but she could just sit cozy under Mike Smith and make on brush.
Long Shot – 3 Sturdy One
Race 6 – 5 ½ furlongs, $100,000 Graduation, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds
1 Mrazek – Lost the Summer Juvenile by a dirty nose to Swipe, a talented colt from the Desormeaux clan; chance to redeem himself with these.
5 Viviendo El Sueno – Showed true grit in winning his MSW debut race; steps up in class to face stakes horses, not unusual for a 2-YO though.
Long Shot – 2 Ralis
Race 7 – 1 mile, Purse $72,000, Optional claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
8 Tara’s Tango – Lost by an inch to the very talented filly Stellar Wind; this Jerry Hollendorfer filly keeps improving, still has a high ceiling.
9 Conquest Curlgirl – Trainer Mark Casse has kept a few good ones around SoCal; OK turf try in last, now returns to her likely favored surface.
Long Shot – 7 Savannah Sky
Race 8 – 6 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
2 Divine Tale – Has finished in the money three races in a row running for this modest price tag; with each loss, the competition gets easier.
3 Take It Easyplease – Sliding down the maiden claiming ladder to this career low class; there are not many fast enough to upset her tonight.
Long Shot – 4 Avo
Best Bet - 1 Mrazek (race 6)
Del Mar Sunday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 17/5/$28.20; Long Shots, 8/3/$38.20; Best Bet, 1/1/$5.00
Del Mar Totals - 238/49/$363.20; Long Shots, 116/20/$252.80; Best Bets, 13/3/$12.50
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #11 Upgrade (8/1) in race 6 at Saratoga. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Got Lucky won at Saratoga paying $3.00 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show. Stats - 110/77/$597.60; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick
