Horse Racing: Today at Del Mar, Nov. 8

Race 1 – 1 3/8th miles (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $28,000, Starter allowance $20,000, 3-year-olds and up
2 It Is Living Water – Often a marathon like this is a jockey’s race all things being equal; Rafael Bejarano has a horse with tactical speed and a shot to save ground.
4 Crucero – What a difference a few months can make; won the San Juan Capistrano at 23/1 odds and is now running in this starter allowance $20K, at least he’s protected.
Long Shot – 8 Image of Joplin
Race 2 – 6 ½ furlongs, Purse $52,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
3 West Mid – Exits the best speed figure of her career when second best; key will be if she can improve another step tonight, that would make her double tough.
5 Lucy De – Was well bet in career debut and ran well enough for third; trainer Mike Pupye adding blinkers on and there are good reasons to believe she will improve.
Long Shot – 6 Moonie
Race 3 – 1 mile, Purse $28,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, Fillies, 2-year-olds
7 Tanager – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; a second angle is trainer Eoin Harty is using Lasix for the first time on her too.
8 Chalking It Up – Showed a little more spunk last time when dropped in for a $50K price tag; trainer Simon Callaghan is taking the blinkers off for this.
Long Shot – 3 Exactamente
Race 4 – 6 furlongs, Purse $40,000, Claiming $50,000, 3-year-olds
2 Great Lou – Did everything but win last time in a strong effort first off the claim by the maestro Jerry Hollendorfer; IMHO a similar effort should beat these tonight.
6 London Legacy – Was never a factor in the restricted Harris Farms stakes up at Fresno; this is class relief and the hiring of Rafael Bejarano can only be a positive.
Long Shot – 4 Wake Up Nick
Race 5 – 5 ½ furlongs, Purse $18,000, Claiming $16,000, 3-year-olds and up
6 Formally Wild – Not easy to claim from the maestro Jerry Hollendorfer and expect to improve; trainer Doug O’Neill will try and he hires the main man Rafael Bejarano.
4 I’m Zonin – I’m not big on picking horses that just graduated, unless they showed something extra; this one has shown improvement and a repeat race is competitive.
Long Shot – 10 Heavenly Haze
Race 6 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $52,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds
3 Tusk – Eastern invader has been facing some good company at Saratoga, Belmont Park and Keeneland; Tapit colt certainly will not be intimidated facing these.
7 Osceola Pond – Trainer Tom Proctor is always dangerous whether he uses Gary Stevens or Drayden Van Dyke; this one should be able to sit a nice trip and grind late.
Long Shot – 1 The Topester
Race 7 – 6 ½ furlongs, Purse $53,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up
10 Power Jam – Was no secret when was 2/3 favorite in his career debut and won for fun; has not been seen since February, so the matter is how wound tight is he.
1 Logan’s Moon – Like the cutback in distance where he probably won’t be close up early, but should show great energy late; chance to save every inch of ground too.
Long Shot – 9 Guy Code
Race 8 – 7 furlongs, $100,000 Betty Grable, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
5 My Monet – You know by now how much I like cutback horses, this ran in the 2-turn grade 1 Zenyatta last time out; gets major class relief and a parking lot post to boot.
4 Wild in the Saddle – She also exited the Zenyatta like the tepid morning line favorite; her race two back in the Tranquility Lake was a quality effort.
Long Shot – 1 Kiss At Midnight
Race 9 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $52,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds
2 Archaeo – His first turf try was a solid effort down the hillside turf course in Arcadia; stretches out now around 2-turns so that is the main question mark.
7 Tristan’s Trilogy – Showed wicked early speed down the hill last time out; to last a 2-turn mile he will have to harness that energy a lot more efficiently.
Long Shot – 3 Strong Values
Best Bet - 3 Tusk (race 6)
Del Mar Saturday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 17/5/$35.60; Long Shots, 8/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.60
Del Mar Totals - 99/28/$147.00; Long Shots, 49/4/$35.00; Best Bets, 6/3/$8.40
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #1 Charismatic Pulpit (10/1) in race 3 at Churchill Downs. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Super Psyche ran out at Belmont Park. Stats - 166/110/$827.60; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick