Today at Del Mar, Aug. 11
TODAY AT DEL MAr
By Richard Eng
Post Time 2:05 p.m.
Race 1 - 6 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Claiming $8,000, 3-year-olds and up
6 So Far So Fast - The ship and win horses are doing well this meet; figures to be very quick from the gate.
3 Faster Action - Rafael Bejarano and Bill Morey have had a hot meet together; big class drop to the bottom rung.
Long Shot - 5 Always the Same
Race 2 - 1 1/16th miles (turf, rail at 14 feet), Purse $62,000, Claiming $50,000, 3-year-olds
7 Avare - Speedball did everything but win last time out; will be aided by the turf rail out 14 feet tonight.
2 Horizon Sky - Julien Leparoux has picked up the knack of the circuit in recent weeks; can sit and fire from arrears.
Long Shot - 1 Magic Channel
Race 3 - 6 furlongs, Purse $25,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up
10 Spotted Owl - Sliding down the claiming ladder to this bottom rung; Eric Kruljac adding blinkers on.
3 Market Portfolio - FTS from the maestro Jerry Hollendorfer; need not be much horse to handle these.
Long Shot - 2 Chicago Hero
Race 4 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
3 Fanticola - Mike Mitchell filly has run two good seconds in a row; there was a year hiatus between starts.
10 Tayrona - Garrett Gomez returned with a nice winner on Saturday; suspect he’s a hungry rider right now.
Long Shot - 4 Not My Tap
Race 5 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 14 feet), Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $80,000, 3-year-olds
8 Cacau - Broke his MSW in a fast turf sprint; stretching out in distance, figures to be forwardly placed.
2 Little Jerry - Ran a cropper in last while well bet to 3/1; his race two back is faster enough to upset.
Long Shot - 10 This One’s For Mel
Race 6 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds
6 Southern Freedom - Typical green debut, show early, fast late; rallied fast on the wide out.
2 American Pride - Rare Bob Baffert hot shot to not graduate after two starts; beaten chalk both times.
Long Shot - 7 Cautious Giant
Race 7 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $53,000, Claiming $40,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds
9 Lady Rosamond - Huge class relief for this Bob Baffert cull; he only wants graded stakes caliber horses.
3 Daddy’s Song - Like the cut back in distance for this; speedball should be able to finish better today.
Long Shot - 11 Lady Katfish
Race 8 - 1 1/8th miles (turf, rail at 14 feet), $250,000 John C. Mabee, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
2 Tiz Flirtatious - Lost to the grade 1 filly Marketing Mix last time out; she may be best of the west.
4 Customer Base - Upset winner of last, gets another chance in top flight company; will be flying fast late.
Long Shot - 3 Lady of Shamrock
Race 9 -1 1/16th miles, Purse $43,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up
7 Would You - Interesting price play first off the claim by Dean Pederson; incredibly difficult finale.
12 Mr. Make Believe - Tiny edge in the most difficult race on the card; tactical speed to sit a trip.
Long Shot - 6 Mr. Candy Bar
Best Bet - 6 Southern Freedom (race 6)
Del Mar Saturday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 19/6/$39.60; Long Shots, 9/1/$10.40; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Del Mar Totals - 319/74/$543.00; Long Shots, 156/20/$248.00; Best Bets, 19/4/$17.80
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #5 Fiftyshadesofgold (7/5) in race 9 at Saratoga. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Where’s Danny won at Saratoga paying $6.60 to win, $3.60 to place and $2.50 to show. Stats - 133/86/$643.60; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick
