HORSE RACING
TODAY AT DEL MAR
By Richard Eng
Post Time 2 p.m.
Race 1 - 1 mile, Purse $16,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds and up
Dazzling Razz - Logical chalk ran well when stretched out around 2-turns; should enjoy today's slower pace.
Manofgold - Third start off a 2-month hiatus; showed improvement when stretched out around 2-turns 3 races ago.
Long Shot - Bustanai
Race 2 - 5 furlongs (turf), Purse $54,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up
Get Funky - Keep an eye on the jockey race between Rafael Bejarano and Joel Rosario; both are pulling out all the stops.
Connagher - Has threaded 3 nice wins in a row; shown equal ability on turf or synthetics, saves all the ground tonight.
Long Shot - Square Deal
Race 3 - 1 mile, Purse $57,000, Optional claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
American Story - Don't usually like MSW grads facing winners for the first time; loved the profesional way that she rallied.
Money Lover - Second start off a 2-month hiatus; has good tactical speed to lead or follow from the get go.
Long Shot - Lava Girl
Race 4 - 1 1/16th miles (turf), $150,000 Palomar Handicap, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
Gotta Have Her - Logical chalk in a tight fit 5-pack; this will be a real cat and mouse game among the jockeys.
Lilly Fa Pootz - The maestro Jerry Hollendorfer has an uncoupled entry in a 5-horse field; did everything but win the Mabee.
Long Shot - Prytania
Race 5 - 6 furlongs, Purse $50,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
Lea the Punisher - She ran a winning race in her career debut when second; if she improves one step, she'll be tough.
Saratoga Fling - Thoroughbred Legends is a partnership among trainers Bob Baffert, Nick Zito and D. Wayne Lukas.
Long Shot - Rote
Race 6 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $16,000, Claiming $8,000, 4-year-olds and up
Skellytown - When Mike Mitchell gets them good, they stay good; showed what he can do with a clear trip in last.
Joe Carl - Claimed by Doug O'Neill who will win the Del Mar trainer title; has the back class to run a lot better.
Long Shot - Lucius Antonius
Race 7 - 6 furlongs, Purse $50,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds
Shane Daniel - Logical chalk has lost 2 photo finishes in a row; Doug O'Neill adding blinkers on for this.
Woodmans Luck - Colt has teased his ability but remains a maiden; Rafael Bejarano remains loyal to the cause.
Long Shot - He Be Fire N Ice
Race 8 - 6 furlongs, $100,000 I'm Smokin, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds
Bench Points - He's beaten a lot of these in his last two wins; could develop into a very nice Cal-bred.
Stormin Rae - Two losses to Bench Points sandwich a smashing MSW win; could upset if he shows with his A game.
Long Shot - Joy Boy
Race 9 - 1 mile, Purse $29,000m, Claiming $20,000, 4-year-olds and up
Exclamation - This looks like a kitchen sink race; lots of horses dropping down in class thrown into the same pot.
Capture the Call - Tepid chalk in a wide open race; wouldn't doubt if the result leads to one more pick 6 carryover.
Long Shot - No Dream
Race 10 - 1 1/16th miles (turf), Purse $52,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
Russian River - Should draw in from the also eligible list; the choice of Rafael Bejarano is she goes, that's enough for me.
Dubawi Heights - Tepid chalk in another wide open affair; saves off the ground in her U.S. debut, been away 10-months.
Long Shot - Megaspiel
Best Bet - Bench Points (race 8)
Del Mar Sunday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 17/5/$22.60; Long Shots, 10/2/$26.60; Best Bet, 1/1/$2.40
Del Mar Totals - 578/143/$624.40; Long Shots, 288/45/$460.60; Best Bets, 34/14/$61.80
SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - #6 Unbridled Praise (5/2) in race 11 at Monmouth Park. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Back to Therapy won at Monmouth Park paying $4.40 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.20 to show. Stats - 162/116/$876.40
