HORSE RACING

TODAY AT DEL MAR

By Richard Eng

Post Time 2 p.m.

Race 1 - 6 furlongs, Purse $44,000, Claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds and up

Band of Thunder - An example of what trainers will do to win at Del Mar; claim for $50k, drop for $40k to win, lose the horse.

Follow My Moon - Should be dead fit exiting 2-turn turf route; big class drop and Rafael Bejarano, will be charging late.

Long Shot - Make Mine Vodka

Race 2 - 6 furlongs, Purse $53,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies, 2-year-olds

Extravagant - FTS from the Craig Dollase barn; nothing special about the works, but enough there to attract Garrett Gomez.

Marquee Player - The only filly in the field to have started where she ran second; will be a factor with slight improvement.

Long Shot - Moonlight Tizzy

Race 3 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $32,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

Big Red Tate - Claimed by Bill Morey and spotted nicely to win quick; note that Morey has an uncoupled entry in this race.

Candy Pull - Unlucky loser last time when he ran fast enough to win this condition; repeat effort puts him right there again.

Long Shot - Roadside Rest

Race 4 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $32,000, Fillies, 2-year-olds

Meat Sauce - In a race this bad, I look at the FTS for any sign of ability; Ted West filly has win early pedigree, so be it.

Fastcar to Freedom - Of the ones with experience, she has the most upside; exits a NoCal stakes where she ran pretty evenly.

Long Shot - Pistoia

Race 5 - 5 furlongs (turf), Purse 459,000, Optional claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Synnin and Grinnin - Has won 3 straight and shows no signs of slowing down; was razor sharp in winning her sprint turf debut.

Mama Knows Best - Tepid chalk has been freshened for 3-months; undefeated in 3-starts, but she's no danger to Cigar just yet.

Long Shot - Masterful Miss

Race 6 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $53,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds

Idontbelievemyeyes - Eoin Harty has an uncoupled entry, both are royally bred; this one draws Rafael Bejarano, your move.

Diamond Tags - FTS from trainer Bob Baffert; he's said his barn is loaded with nice 2-YOs, it's about time they showed up.

Long Shot - Candilejas

Race 7 - 1 1/16th miles (turf), Purse $63,000, Allowance, 3-year-olds and up

Mr. Chairman - Consistent sort has not run a bad race in 2008; loses Bejarano to the favorite, but I like this guy better.

Man to Man - He's been stuck in this condition for a while, never a good sign; still he runs fast enough to get in the number.

Long Shot - Spinning Sound

Race 8 - 6 1/2 furlongs, $150,000 Best Pal, 2-year-olds

Coronet of a Baron - Chicago shipper figures to be overlooked by the wiseguys; toyed with a good field, has been working great.

Captain Steel - Earned a big figure in his MSW win, but his foes have done poorly since; still he's a Jeff Mullins, beware.

Long Shot - S.S. Stone

Race 9 - 6 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Maiden claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up

Tommys Luck - Remember that layoff horses come to Del Mar to win, not for a test drive; returns off a 6-month sabbatical.

Vanaldi - Ran well first time off the claim by Frank Monteleone; suspect he'll hold his form, enough to compete with these.

Long Shot - Something Stellar

Best Bet - Big Red Tate (race 3)

Del Mar Saturday- Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 17/4/$21.40; Long Shots, 10/4/$63.00; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Del Mar Totals - 352/84/$606.40; Long Shots, 185/27/$330.40; Best Bets, 22/7/$32.60