HORSE RACING
TODAY AT DEL MAR
By Richard Eng
Post Time 2 p.m.
Race 1 – 6 furlongs, Purse $31,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up
2 Blue Rock – Sliding down the maiden claiming ladder to this reduced level; blinkers on, need not be much horse.
5 Frenzo – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; showed good speed last time out.
Long Shot -7 Competent
Race 2 – 1 mile, Purse $24,000, Claiming $16,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
3 Crazyforlovingyou – Big class drop to face a moribund group; the key vote comes from Garrett Gomez, riding in top form.
5 Stunningly – Taking a sharp class rise off a solid second; there isn’t much in here, so she can surely get a piece.
Long Shot – 2 Merrytagio
Race 3 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $24,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up
3 Ignited – Showed good late energy with recent thirds; this is clearly his race to lose facing mostly slowpokes.
1 Volacious – Grinder from the rail will hope the route distance beats the chalk; expect an even pace from the inside.
Long Shot – 8 Alex T
Race 4 – 7 furlongs, Purse $42,000, Claiming $32,000, 3-year-olds and up
4 Remus – Been rested 2-months since Hollywood ended; Mike Pupye runners have routinely looked good and ran well this meet.
1 Galleta Monstruo – Big rider switch to Joel Rosario; after a bad start to the meet, he is clicking on all cylinders.
Long Shot – 2 Domonation
Race 5 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $27,000, Maiden claiming $32,000, Fillies, 2-year-olds
6 Candy and Nuts – Sliding down the maiden claiming ladder; Doug O’Neill barn is starting to show signs of life.
8 Courtney’s Prize – Was well meant as a ship and win horse in last; she can run better and offers some value tonight.
Long Shot – 10 Ansede
Race 6 – 1 mile, Purse $65,000, Optional claiming $25,000, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
5 Diamond Journey – Improved big off the claim by Mike Mitchell; she is back on her preferred surface synthetics.
6 Secret Oath – Ran a cropper in last chasing the favorite; she won her only start at Del Mar, thus is worth a look.
Long Shot – 3 Carrie Rose
Race 7 – 5 furlongs (turf, rail at 14 feet), Purse $70,000, Optional claiming $62,500, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
2 Salty Sarah – Bob Baffert has done a fine job building the Live Your Dream barn; been claiming horses and improving them.
5 Linda Lou – Richard Mandella horses routinely get overbet; not that they don’t win, but it’s often at short odds.
Long Shot – 1 Jax El
Race 8 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $31,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds
1 So Tough – The ones with experience look moribund; I’ll go with fast working FTS, especially from Mike Mitchell.
3 Warren’s Diggers – The only colt with experience that looks like a runner; can win if he improves a step or two.
Long Shot – 7 Mr Sproles
Best Bet – 5 Diamond Journey (race 6)
Del Mar Wednesday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/2/$18.80; Long Shots, 8/1/$12.20; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Del Mar Totals – 267/60/$432.20; Long Shots, 130/16/$213.80; Best Bets, 15/3/$17.00
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #3 Henny’s Hurricane (7/2) in race 3 at Saratoga. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Wednesday, Goodtimehadbyall ran third at Saratoga paying $2.60 to show. Stats – 131/83/$673.50