HORSE RACING

TODAY AT DEL MAR

By Richard Eng

Post Time 4 p.m.

Race 1 - 6 furlongs, Purse $29,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, 2-year-olds

Dark Vadar - FTS from the Hendricks barn has been working above average in the a.m.; above average may be enough to beat these.

Black Mallou - Is showing improvement with every start; like that Miller takes the weight off with 5-pound bugboy Quinonez.

Long Shot - Golden Gorilla

Race 2 - 1 1/16th miles (turf, rail at 7 feet), Purse $51,000, Claiming $50,000, 3-year-olds

Stella Mark - Ran a cropper last time in a really miserable effort; he's better than that, his start two back can win this.

Daytona - Stretching out around 2-turns should keep him a lot closer to the early pace; Nakatani is best in turf racing.

Long Shot - Slam My Heart

Race 3 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $32,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

The White Lady - Not sure what's going on in the Conlon barn, but she is winning races; need not be much horse to succeed.

Distorted View - To say the Baffert barn has underachieved this year is being kind; this class dropper obviously has a shot.

Long Shot - Island Lightning

Race 4 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $63,000, Optional claiming $25,000, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Tiz a Blend - Beaten favorite figures to be much juicier odds today; her prior races are all good, she can rebound today.

Sure Speed - Dead late closer has the right style for Polytrack; 2-turn route races have not been kind to speedball types.

Long Shot - Lady Truffles

Race 5 - 6 furlongs, Purse $32,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 2-year-olds

Comissioner Gordon - Mullins has an uncoupled entry so I don't want you to get hoodwinked; thought his maiden win was better.

Carson's Copper - Could be a clever claim by Miller, who is having a dream meet so far; Nakatani has been the barn's main man.

Long Shot - Paradise Pete

Race 6 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $33,000, Claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Neutrality - Will be overlooked off a cheap maiden claiming win; parking lot posts have not been a big negative over Polytrack.

Darkness Night - Logical chalk due to the extreme drop in class; turning back from a 2-turn route, she'll be flying late.

Long Shot - Hard Woman

Race 7 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 7 feet), $85,000 Wickerr Handicap, 3-year-olds and up

Unrivaled Song - Drysdale has an uncoupled entry, would not be surprised to see this longer price win; saves all the ground.

Becrux - Logical chalk is getting class relief off of various graded stakes races; a flat mile is his best grass distance.

Long Shot - Zann

Race 8 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $21,000, Maiden claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up

Unbridled Harmony - Hard to get excited over a horse who is 0-for-21, but who else can win; will be slow early, fast late.

Handsome Bill - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to claiming; offers some value if he holds his 6/1 odds.

Long Shot - Bertrand At Mr A's

Best Bet - Tiz a Blend (race 4)

Del Mar Thursday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/3/$16.80; Long Shots, 8/1/$12.40; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Del Mar Totals - 126/32/$210.40; Long Shots, 64/8/$80.80; Best Bets, 8/5/$23.60