Today at Del Mar: Sept. 1, 2014
August 31, 2014 - 9:01 pm
TODAY AT DEL MAR by Richard Eng
Post Time 2 p.m.
Race 1 - 6 furlongs, Purse $38,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
7 Faith Hope Love - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; Rafael Bejarano won an amazing 6 races on Sunday.
10 Ryderroo - She’s been down this road a lot; she is good for cashing paychecks but is a proven nibbler.
Long Shot - 5 Best in Class
Race 2 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $33,000, Claiming $16,000, 3-year-olds
3 Super Reagan - Sharp maiden claiming win last out on the drop; facing winners for the first time, seems properly placed.
8 Contributor - Would like him better if not for the parking lot post; Aaron Gryder rarely ever rides for Tom Proctor.
Long Shot - 5 Go Black Tie
Race 3 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 6 feet), Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds and up
2 Yes Yes Yes - Turned in a career best effort when second in last; the key will be if he can move forward one more step.
10 Wicked Finance - Getting a bit long in the tooth; the key for me is he has run a couple of races fast enough to upset these.
Long Shot - 7 Wanstead Gardens
Race 4 - 6 furlongs, $150,000 I’m Smokin, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds
7 Wake Up Nick - Unbeaten in three career starts; not sure how far he’ll want to go, but he figures to go fast sprinting for now.
2 Truely Quick - This colt may be able to go 2-turns in future tests; has done nothing wrong for a good trainer in Jeff Bonde.
Long Shot - 8 Global Magician
Race 5 - 1 mile, Purse $80,000, Optional claiming $62,500, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
4 Tiz Midnight - Highly regarded Bob Baffert filly is finally coming around; carefully managed, has not even run in a stakes yet.
5 Lady Asano - Has been stuck at this $62.5K level for quite some time; has nibbled enough paychecks to earn more than $130K.
Long Shot - 7 My Happy Face
Race 6 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 6 feet), $100,000 Oak Tree Juvenile, Fillies, 2-year-olds
5 She’s Complete - I have been known to like maidens in juvenile stakes; has good experience with two placings, has lots of talent.
1 Achiever’s Legacy - The rail going a 2-turn mile is a major post advantage; saving ground while a short run to the first turn.
Long Shot - 2 Diva Express
Race 7 - 6 furlongs, Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up
6 Pulla Train - That was a sharp win last time off a 7-month hiatus; can win right back as long as he doesn’t bounce.
3 Next Speaker - Tepid chalk in a really wide open affair; claimed by Bob Hess who keeps Tyler Baze in the saddle.
Long Shot - 11 Giant Ego
Race 8 - 1 mile, Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up
10 Conscience - With Gary Stevens out, Drayden Van Dyke gets more of the stable opportunities; bugboy clearly rides like a journeyman.
6 Seeking the West - Been stuck at this O/C $40K level forever; has cashed a lot of paychecks, but obviously lacks a killer instinct.
Long Shot - 2 Got Even
Race 9 - 1 1/16th miles (turf, rail at 6 feet), $200,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
7 Parranda - Has improved enough to battle the best in the SoCal distaff division; enjoy it now because the Breeder’s Cup is coming.
5 Cozze Up Lady - Close third in a blanket finish of the Mabee; this has been a big meet for Keith Desormeaux who brought the right horses.
Long Shot - 1 Stormy Lucy
Race 10 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds
13 Matty’s Tribal - Must draw in but I like him if he does; was favored in debut and gave a good account of himself.
9 Mischief Clem - FTS from the team of Bob Hess and Kent Desormeaux; your edge is you will see the tote action on the many FTS.
Long Shot - 8 Flexible
Race 11 - 6 furlongs, Purse $24,000, Claiming $16,000, 3-year-olds and up
9 Tribal Dude - Claimed by Bob Hess who legs up, who else, but Kent Desormeaux; has many back speed number to compete with these.
1 No Ez Money - Has shown plenty of early lead, but no staying power; the final 50 yards are the most difficult.
Long Shot - 12 Chattering Class
Best Bet - 7 Wake Up Nick (race 4)
Del Mar Sunday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 21/8/$45.80; Long Shots, 10/1/$8.60; Best Bet, 1/1/$4.00
Del Mar Totals - 574/130/$892.00; Long Shots, 285/30/$320.40; Best Bets, 31/9/$46.60
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #10 Shankopotamus (5/2) in race 10 at Saratoga. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Curalina was scratched at Saratoga. Stats - 136/82/$785.30; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick