Today at Del Mar: Aug. 31, 2014

TODAY AT DEL MAR by Richard Eng

Post Time 2 p.m.

Race 1 - 1 mile, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds

6 Maybellene - Bob Baffert barn is heating up towards the end of the meet; been giving some big mounts to Rafael Bejarano.

1 Danette - Speed and the rail never hurt going a 2-turn mile; Kent Desormeaux continues to squeeze run out of him mounts.

Long Shot - 4 Ultimate Holiday

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

2 Salsita - Peter Miller is throwing everything out there trying to win the trainer title; this one ran well off a 4-month hiatus.

3 Golden Celestial - Steve Miyadi takes the weight off today with top bugboy Drayden Van Dyke; he rides like a solid journeyman.

Long Shot - 4 Yodel Up a Storm

Race 3 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 6 feet), Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds

1 Dixie Tweet - Did everything but win last time in a gutty turf debut; speed and the rail, will try similar tactics.

9 Tiz Ladys Legs - Huge rider switch to Rafael Bejarano; Neil Drysdale working on a small duck with just 14 starts.

Long Shot - 2 Educating

Race 4 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $28,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 3-year-olds and up

6 Burning - Lost a difficult head decision last time when leading late; Rafael Bejarano does not lose many photo finishes.

5 Designated - Joel Rosario makes a rare appearance from Saratoga; taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming.

Long Shot - 4 Stauffenberg

Race 5 - 1 mile, $100,000 Torrey Pines, Fillies, 3-year-olds

4 Jojo Warrior - Away since a crushing win in the Summer Oaks at Santa Anita; won her MSW at Del Mar last year.

7 More Complexity - Has posted two nice wins in a row for Edward Freeman; Mario Gutierrez has ridden her in all career starts.

Long Shot - 1 Delta Flower

Race 6 - 1 1/16th miles (turf, rail at 6 feet), Purse $77,000, Allowance, 3-year-olds and up

4 Boozer - Has been burning money as a beaten odds on chalk in 4-of-5 recent starts; could win, but not a single on any of my tickets.

9 Husband’s Folly - Edged Boozer for second in last and could keep improving since claimed by Jerry Hollendorfer; Kent Desormeaux rides.

Long Shot - 6 Heat Flash

Race 7 - 1 mile, $90,000 Tranquility Lake, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

6 Broken Sword - Gets major class relief from 3 graded stakes for this much easier spot; meant to be a confidence booster.

7 Oscar Party - Won her synthetic debut in last and earned this test; offers value for a filly that tries hard each time out.

Long Shot - 3 Scooter Bird

Race 8 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $48,000, Claiming $32,000, 3-year-olds and up

3 Diamond of Blue - Runaway winner in last, aggressive placement by the Jerry Hollendorfer; tactical speed to be forwardly placed.

6 Carlot Cowboy - Ran very well first off the claim by John Sadler; can lead or win from off of the early pace.

Long Shot - 7 Motown Men

Race 9 - 1 1/8th miles (turf, rail at 6 feet), $300,000 Del Mar Derby, 3-year-olds

5 Enterprising - Since Mike Smith took over, he’s taken her far back and made one run; turns out that is where she is most effective.

7 Flamboyant - Turned in a real nice effort in the Belmont Derby; he is the reason Joel Rosario has come out to ride.

Long Shot - 1 Home Run Kitten

Race 10 - 1 mile, Purse $24,000, Claiming $10,000, 3-year-olds and up

7 Hawk’s Eyes - A. C. Avila touches horses that turn to gold; this has been a renaissance where his stable is firing.

1 Gold Medallion - Won first off the claim by Bob Hess; he has teamed up with Kent Desormeaux for many wins this meet.

Long Shot - 8 Two Is to Many

Race 11 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 6 feet), Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

10 Bijoux - Joel Rosario takes the call before dinnertime; with two races of experience, should be ready for a best effort today.

5 Charm Catcher - Returned from a 10-month hiatus with a spirited third; no surprise if this Ron McAnally charge improves again.

Long Shot - 7 Halljoy

Best Bet - 4 Jojo Warrior (race 5)

Del Mar Saturday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 21/5/$29.80; Long Shots, 10/1/$8.60; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.80

Del Mar Totals - 525/116/$806.20; Long Shots, 262/26/$285.40; Best Bets, 28/8/$42.60

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #7 Curalina (7/2) in race 10 at Saratoga. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Zivo ran out at Saratoga. Stats - 135/81/$782.60; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick