HORSE RACING
TODAY AT DEL MAR
By Richard Eng
Post Time 2 p.m.
Race 1 - 1 mile, Purse $25,000, Claiming $16,000, 4-year-olds and up
Joe Carl - Claimed by Peter Miller off a sharp win; fresh horse had a 2-month hiatus before that last outing.
North Fork - Interesting comebacker has been away 16-months; note that in the DRF he is 2-for-2 wins lifetime at Del Mar.
Long Shot - Hunter Creek
Race 2 - 1 1/16th miles (turf), Purse $32,000, Claiming $32,000, 3-year-olds and up
Yacht Spotter - Speed does better on Del Mar grass than at Hollywood or Santa Anita; catch Rafael Bejarano to win.
Silent Soul - Runs first time for a price tag, maybe ever; been away 2-months, figures to be fresh, fit and dangerous.
Long Shot - Carbon Hoofprint
Race 3 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $24,000, Claiming $16,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
Sky Marni - Rested 4-months and pointed for this meet; exits a bullet workout, watch the tote board for clues.
Squeeze Me Tight - Claimed by Mike Mitchell after being dropped to a career low class level; good tactical speed.
Long Shot - Stevie's Afleet
Race 4 - 1 mile, Purse $21,000, Maiden claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
Maddyaboutyou - Beaten favorite makes her third start off a 2-month hiatus; see if Ron Ellis barn can remain hot.
Tiz Smoke Tiz Fire - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; facing a weak group.
Long Shot - Diva Gone Wild
Race 5 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $57,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up
Lions Story - Watch out for the maestro Jerry Hollendorfer; he has an uncoupled entry and can be real sneaky in here.
In the Paint - Tepid chalk in a wide open race; respect Mike Mitchell, but there's unknown in this Kentucky shipper.
Long Shot - Premier Cru
Race 6 - 1 mile (turf), Purse $62,000, Optional claiming $62,500, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
Gripsholm Castle - Race is full of talented underachievers; Ben Cecil ran him in two graded stakes to start his U.S. career.
Ruffled Feathers - Tepid chalk in another wide open affair; there is a lot of speed for closers to do their best work.
Long Shot - Oui Say Oui
Race 7 - 6 furlongs, Purse $50,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
Go On Babe - Bob Baffert has an uncoupled entry, caveat emptor; barn has been winning with one good 2-YO after another.
Mama Bouche - The other Baffert ran well in debut; was flattered when Saint Isabelle won next time out.
Long Shot - Once in Awhile
Race 8 - 1 mile (turf), $100,000 Oceanside, 3-year-olds
Twirling Candy - Everybody's best bet on the racing card; stablemate of Sidney's Candy, who knows, he may be more talented.
Hockley - Sleeper sits back and lets the speedballs battle it out; David Flores will try and punch it in late.
Long Shot - Domonation
Race 9 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $22,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up
Total Sum - Ran like a short horse in comeback off a 14-month hiatus; switch to Rafael Bejarano for the money shot.
Island Run - Tepid chalk in a card full of tough races; could come down to Joel Rosario and Bejarano in the stretch.
Long Shot - Lucky Fitz
Race 10 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $22,000, Maiden claiming $32,000, 2-year-olds
Bigmikeistheman - His speed figures tower over the ones with experience; facing the weakest field of his career.
Jakesam - FTS from Jerry Hollendorfer has been working forever up north; like that he debuts in SoCal rather than NoCal.
Long Shot - Grand Manuever
Best Bet - Bigmikeistheman (race 10)
Hollywood Park Sunday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 20/5/$29.60; Long Shots, 10/2/$23.40; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Hollywood Park Final Totals - 968/282/$1,817.60; Long Shots, 475/54/$645.60; Best Bets, 57/30/$120.00
SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - #2 Valmeni (1/1) in race 1 at Delaware Park. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Morningsideheights ran second at Monmouth Park paying $5.00 to place and $4.00 to show. Stats - 130/94/$676.80
