HORSE RACING

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