Horse Racing: Today at Del Mar, Aug. 3
TODAY AT del mar
By Richard Eng
Post Time 2:05 p.m.
Race 1 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds
6 Hold Everything – FTO from the powerhouse Bob Baffert barn; suspect the tote board will be singing.
2 Rum Point – Showed good speed in debut; draws inside again where he can save a lot of ground.
Long Shot – 2 Touchdownwilson
Race 2 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $33,000, Claiming $16,000, 3-year-olds and up
7 Big Wags – Claimed by Bill Spawr off a subpar performance; his race two back is fast enough to beat these.
4 Smokin’ Cat – John Sadler cull takes a huge class drop to face much easier; Martin Pedroza seldom rides for this barn.
Long Shot – 2 Golden Mexico
Race 3 – 7 furlongs, Purse $62,000, Claiming $50,000, 3-year-olds and up
8 Truelee Scrappin – Claimed by Mike Mitchell off a good run in return off a 18-month hiatus; has back class to repeat or improve.
2 Amazing Hearted – Sharp debut winner for Bob Baffert; debuted for a price tag and is still not protected in here.
Long Shot – 1 Dress Code
Race 4 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up
6 Pulla Train – Typical green debut, slow early, fast late; Eric Kruljac adding blinkers on, expect more gas early on.
1 Bro’s Bro – Showed enormous improvement in second career start; if he improves one more step, he’ll be tough to handle.
Long Shot – 3 Dreamnofatticus
Race 5 – 1 mile, Purse $80,000, Optional claiming $62,500, 3-year-olds and up
2 Rousing Sermon – Tepid chalk in the hardest race on the card; end of the Pick 5, start of the pick 6, super important heat.
5 Mega Heat – Liked his comeback win for Peter Eurton; has speed to lead or sit close up throughout.
Long Shot – 9 You Know I Know
Race 6 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 14 feet), Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
8 Warren’s Flasher – Won last time under Rafael Bejarano; has moved forward a lot since switching to the turf.
2 English Crossing – Ridiculous pedigree to love the grass; her resume shows that it is her preferred surface.
Long Shot – 10 Heart Stealer
Race 7 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies, 2-year-olds
3 Eddies Curl – Solid second as a maiden in a stakes race; returns to Cal-bred MSW with good experience under her belt.
2 Stole a Kiss – Even run in a well bet debut; Mike Pupye taking the blinkers off, baby should improve.
Long Shot – 6 Miss Loujean
Race 8 – 1 1/16th miles, $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
9 Include Me Out – Has a strong Del Mar resume, clearly a positive sign; been well rested for a good second half campaign.
3 Quiet Oasis – Been given time since a dull try in the Keeneland Jenny Wiley; strong synthetic resume for Del Mar debut.
Long Shot – 1 Lady of Fifty
Race 9 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $24,000, Claiming $16,000, 3-year-olds and up
3 Just Irish – Doug O’Neill drops him to the price he claimed him at two races ago; blinkers on, all signs say go.
2 Localsucess – Like the turn back in distance from route to sprint; suspect will sit back and make one big brush.
Long Shot – 11 Eyesablazin
Race 10 – 1 1/16th miles (turf, rail at 14 feet), Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $25,000, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up
2 Pulpit’s Express – Powerhouse win last time under edwin Maldonado; fine claim by John Sadler three races ago.
7 Ethnic Dance – Big MSW win in last; uncoupled entry for John Sadler, this one will be the longer odds runner.
Long Shot – 11 Maybe Tuesday
Best Bet – 3 Just Irish (race 9)
Del Mar Friday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/1/$5.80; Long Shots, 8/1/$9.80; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Del Mar Totals – 217/46/$331.60; Long Shots, 107/13/$142.60; Best Bets, 13/4/$17.80
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #5 Ron the Greek (6/1) in race 10 at Saratoga. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Major Marvel won at Saratoga paying $4.10 to win, $3.10 to place and $2.50 to show. Stats – 127/81/$610.80; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick
