Today at Del Mar: Aug. 24, 2014

TODAY AT DEL MAR by Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 - 6 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds

2 Conquest Panthera - Mark Casse babies have all run well, but maybe run second, not first; like the live jockey in HOF Mike Smith.

5 Madiba - Like when Rafael Bejarano and the maestro Jerry Hollendorfer team up; they rarely are dead on the board.

Long Shot - 4 Dream It Do It

Race 2 - 1 1/16th miles (turf, rail at 12 feet), Purse $80,000, Allowance, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

7 Yahilwa - Speedy sort is also capable of stalking; suspect Mike Smith might try a change of tactics this afternoon.

1 Bee Brave - Like the rail post in turf routes; a key to victory is saving ground, so the rail post makes the job easier.

Long Shot - 8 Free Money

Race 3 - 6 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds

6 Make the Sun Shine - Mike Smith replacing the injured Stewart Elliott; remember he got kicked in the side and broke a rib.

3 Madam Aamoura - Very green debut with slow early, fast late running line; Bob Baffert babies always improve with experience.

Long Shot - 7 Southern Prospect

Race 4 - 6 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

9 Miss Super Quick - I know she’s had many chances, but is showing signs of improvement; Tyler Baze is back riding well again.

4 Kirov - Was bet like a good thing in debut and was well meant when third; like that Mike Smith remains loyal to the cause.

Long Shot - 3 Firefly

Race 5 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 12 feet), $250,000 Del Mar Mile Handicap, 3-year-olds and up

1 Obviously - The chalk looks like lone early speed, the best bet in horse racing; the turf rail out 12 feet can only help some more.

2 Tom’s Tribute - Big race last time when a solid pace set up his closing tactics; may not see the speed duel he would like today.

Long Shot - 7 Lil Bit O’Fun

Race 6 - 6 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds

1 Ritzy Tags - When Bob Baffert babies don’t run first time out, they are worth a look next time; watch the tote board for clues.

9 Sandy’s Song - Was well bet in debut and well meant when a speedy third; Kent Desormeaux still has a shot to win the title.

Long Shot - 8 Into Oblivion

Race 7 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $38,000, Claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up

10 Hurricane Lake - Sliding down the claiming ladder for Mark Glatt; like that Rafael Bejarano stays loyal, one to fear.

7 Dress Code - These are his friends at this $20K level; was reclaimed by Robertino Diodoro so he must like this one.

Long Shot - 2 Dysprosium

Race 8 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 12 feet), Purse $77,000, Allowance, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

10 Baruta - Was put on the lead in last, not sure by design or accident; she seems to run better when covered up.

2 Jade With Envy - I always like horses that won and ran a lower Beyer Speed figure; simple measure they won with something left.

Long Shot - 8 Burns Turn

Race 9 - 7 furlongs, $250,000 Pat O’Brien, 3-year-olds and up

2 Fed Biz - Horses for courses, he is a perfect 3-for-3 wins at Del Mar; to say he loves the shore is an understatement.

5 Goldencents - In four races at Del Mar, has finished second three times; he is as honest as they come, winner of the BC Dirt Mile.

Long Shot - 3 Silentio

Race 10 - 1 1/4 miles, $1-million TVG Pacific Classic, 3-year-olds and up

7 Majestic Harbor - I loved his race in the Gold Cup; been given time by Sean McCarthy, the key question is how he’ll handle synthetics.

11 Shared Belief - A perfect 4-for-4 over synthetics, he could be the best 3-YO in the country; California Chrome will have a final say.

Long Shot - 5 Game On Dude

Race 11 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $24,000, Claiming $16,000, 3-year-olds and up

4 Wholly Hughes - Tiny edge in a truly impossible race; off slow in Del Mar debut, but rolled late under Aaron Gryder.

12 Worl Famous Sam T - Did a pop and stop first off the claim for Bob Hess; takes the blinkers off to see if he’ll relax better.

Long Shot - 6 Navarre

Best Bet - 1 Obviously (race 5)

Del Mar Saturday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 19/6/$37.40; Long Shots, 10/2/$32.80; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.00

Del Mar Totals - 467/101/$709.20; Long Shots, 234/24/$258.60; Best Bets, 25/6/$33.40

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #2 Cody’s Notes (8/1) in race 11 at Saratoga. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Wicked Strong ran second at Saratoga paying $4.40 to place and $3.10 to show. Stats - 132/80/$773.90; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick