Today at Del Mar: Aug. 23, 2014
TODAY AT DEL MAR by Richard Eng
Post Time 2 p.m.
Race 1 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $43,000, Claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
2 Oscillator - Huge class relief from the Irish O’Brien to this $25K claimer; adding blinkers on by Jorge Periban.
5 Appealing Resume - It’s the Iggy Puglisi/Paul Aguirre team; double tough and this mare has already won twice at Del Mar.
Long Shot - 3 Backwoods Belle
Race 2 - 1 1/8th miles (turf, rail at 12 feet), Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds and up
8 Candy’s Shoes - Whenever Rafael Bejarano and Jerry Hollendorfer get together, they deserve respect; turf debut was above average.
1 Opsec - Bob Baffert doesn’t win many turf races, but he’ll try with this colt; been an unusually quiet meet for the white haired one.
Long Shot - 5 Play Hard to Get
Race 3 - 6 furlongs, Purse $43,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds
8 Red N Black Attack - Taking a huge class drop from $50K to $25K; drops at Del Mar are mainly because owners like to win races here.
1 Jedi Mind Trick - Did a classic pop and stop last time out; draws the rail again, but big change is drop from $50K to $25K.
Long Shot - 3 Johns Journey
Race 4 - 7 furlongs, Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up
5 Masochistic - This 4-YO is freakishly fast for A. C. Avila; he is right in taking his time winning thru his conditions.
4 Celecbrity Status - Been stuck at this O/C $40K level for some time now; has come close but no cigar for Don Warren.
Long Shot - 2 My Samurai Warrior
Race 5 - 1 1/16th miles (turf, rail at 12 feet), Purse $77,000, Allowance, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
1 Stylish in Black - Do not mind a horse drawing the rail on turf at Del Mar; can save ground and angle for racing room late.
3 Market Quote - Joins the small barn of Cliff Sise from John Shirreffs; suspect she is ready to roll for the new barn.
Long Shot - 9 Unusual Style
Race 6 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $38,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds
3 Player’s Charm - Did everything but win last time in a solid effort; these are his friends at this reduced level.
8 Sir Irish Danny - FTS from Doug O’Neill who bang-bang went from coma to white hot in a jiffy; when a barn gets hot, watch out.
Long Shot - 10 Quiet Thunder
Race 7 - 6 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
10 Mindfully - Ron Ellis is quietly having a fine meet; he only sends then out razor sharp, no one gives a race at Del Mar.
1 Steel Lady - Strong career debut for Jorge Gutierrez and Rafael Bejarano; this one will be live from the get go.
Long Shot - 2 Demonica
Race 8 - 1 3/8th miles (turf, rail at 12 feet), $200,000 Del Mar Handicap, 3-year-olds and up
4 Big John B - What a claim by Philip D’Amato; has strung together three top efforts for new barn and is very dangerous in here.
9 Quick Casablanca - Cuts back in distance from the San Juan Capistrano; valiant chase of a lone speed winner that day.
Long Shot - 8 Bench Light
Race 9 - 6 furlongs, Purse $38,000, Claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up
8 Peacenik - I like when Mike Smith teams up with Bill Spawr; they do great together and this one looks very live on the drop.
2 Next Speaker - Claimed by Julio Canani and spotted smartly to win first time out; taken from Ted West who has been red hot this meet.
Long Shot - 3 Half Dome Dude
Race 10 - 1 mile, Purse $33,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
4 Lamazone - Was absolutely flying in last when a stride late; dead late closers are always at the mercy of the early pace.
6 Venetian - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; be interesting what style she runs today.
Long Shot - 9 Wild Caroline
Best Bet - 5 Masochistic (race 4)
Del Mar Friday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 11/1/$4.00; Long Shots, 7/0/$0; Best Bet, 0/0/$0
Del Mar Totals - 448/95/$671.80; Long Shots, 224/22/$225.80; Best Bets, 24/5/$30.40
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #7 Wicked Strong (7/2) in race 12 at Saratoga. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Justice Served ran out at Monmouth Park. Stats - 131/79/$766.40; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick
