Horse racing: Today at Del Mar, Aug. 10
TODAY AT DEL MAR
By Richard Eng
Post Time 4 p.m.
Race 1 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $58,000, Claiming $50,000, 3-year-olds
1 Major Magic – Only horse to possess two turf victories; saves all the ground and comes grinding late.
3 Desormais – Tepid chalk has yet to win a turf race; reunited with Garrett Gomez who rode him two races ago.
Long Shot – 4 You Know I Know
Race 2 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $70,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up
3 Cat Meeting – Outran his huge odds in turf debut last time off a year hiatus; big rider switch to Rafael Bejarano for the money shot.
8 Bringon the Wain – Many close but no cigar finishes among nine career starts; big rider switch to hot riding Joe Talamo.
Long Shot – 4 Wild Side Story
Race 3 – 1 1/16th miles (turf), Purse $70,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
2 Miss Well Molded – Ran well when second last time to Zanbo; this is an evenly matched group so she need to improve another step.
1 Passionville – Exits the same Zanbo race as the chalk; will save all the ground under Rafael Bejarano and come flying late.
Long Shot – 6 Three Blondes
Race 4 – 7 furlongs, Purse $71,000, Optional claiming $25,000, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
4 Church Avenue – Sharp win for Ron Ellis last time; she is in good form and this clearly is her comfort zone.
6 Carrie Rose – Mike Mitchell charge ran dull while facing tougher in last; gets class relief facing her friends tonight.
Long Shot – 2 Easy Goes By
Race 5 – 6 furlongs, Purse $25,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
7 Medio Ciego – Strong, but troubled, run last time; chased a wound tight winner Never Shea Never from the Mike Mitchell barn.
4 Kvetch – Claimed by Art Sherman off a decent return effort; she hadn’t run in 9-months and figured to need a race.
Long Shot – 3 Nana Beach
Race 6 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $70,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds
3 Mechaya – You’ll have a big edge over me as these are all FTS; watch the tote board for clues, but expect this John Sadler to get bet.
2 Exchange Student – Been very impressed with the Tom Proctor barn this meet; he has brought out only live horses who are performing.
Long Shot – 8 Bas
Race 7 – 5 furlongs (turf), $85,000 Daisycutter Handicap, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
8 Mega Dream – Tough post in this abbreviated sprint; mare has a powerful late kick, will sit in arrears early and come flying late.
2 Givine – Been away since running second to Mizdirection last February; she’ll be ready, there’s no turf racing at Fairplex.
Long Shot – 1 Ninth Infantry
Race 8 – 6 furlongs, Purse $24,000, Claiming $10,000, 3-year-olds and up
6 Fit and Awesome – This ship and win candidate really fits in this spot; this is the cheapest he’s ever run in his career.
11 Gold Medallion – Huge rider switch to Rafael Bejarano for the money shot; has more tactical speed than showed in last.
Long Shot – 9 Sea Rascal
Best Bet – 4 Church Avenue (race 4)
Del Mar Thursday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/3/$20.20; Long Shots, 7/2/$21.40; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Del Mar Totals – 278/77/$488.80; Long Shots, 142/16/$144.80; Best Bets, 15/9/$37.00
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #7 Shotinthefog (6/1) in race 1 at Saratoga. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, Orsonian was scratched at Saratoga. Stats – 122/87/$744.70; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick