Horse Racing: Today at Del Mar, Aug. 31

TODAY AT del mar

By Richard Eng

Post Time 2:05 p.m.

Race 1 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $28,000, Claiming $12,500, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

4 Ghost N Your Heart – Drops to the lowest class of her career; her win two back, if repeated, would beat these today too.

5 Jet Blue Girl – Ship and win candidate was facing tougher foes in Arapahoe; easy to overlook, but this field isn’t much.

Long Shot – 7 Rossi Reserve

Race 2 – 1 mile, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds

Southern Freedom – Was my best bet of the day the last time she ran; the farther they go, the more it should help him win.

6 Confisio – Mike Mitchell colt ran well in career debut; upset chance with even a step or two of improvement.

Long Shot – 3 Bourne Hot

Race 3 – 1 1/8th miles (turf), Purse $43,000, Claiming $25,000, 4-year-olds and up

1 Danderek – Speed and the rail can be a useful combo; Corey Nakatani subs for Rafael Bejarano who is in Saratoga.

8 Beachcombing – Was second best to the chalk last time; has proved he can sit a trip and grind it out late.

Long Shot – 9 Major Magic

Race 4 – 1 mile, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds

9 New Year’s Day – Bob Baffert charge was bet in debut and ran an OK third; key is he is starting to use Garrett Gomez again.

7 Bond Holder – Showing steady, albeit modest, improvement with each start; Doug O’Neill barn has been a story this meet.

Long Shot – 1 Oso Smart

Race 5 – 1 mile, $90,000 Harry F. Brubaker, 3-year-olds and up

9 Liaison – Was shoved aside in the Pacific Classic so Martin Garcia could ride Game on Dude; talk about an easier spot.

7 Sky Kingdom – If any horse can upset the chalk, it’s his uncoupled stalemate; also from the Bob Baffert stable.

Long Shot – 4 Clubhouse Ride

Race 6 – 6 furlongs, Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

7 Socialbug – Kin to Midnight Lute was most impressive in career debut win; if she’s anywhere near as talented, look out here.

1 Llandudno – Dead late closer can pick up the pieces of the exhaust fumes from the chalk; sits in arrears and fires late.

Long Shot – 8 Mia Lady

Race 7 – 6 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies, 2-year-olds

10 Stole a Kiss – If you judge the company you keep, she chased Sunday Rules last time; exits a key race, double tough tonight.

6 Heaven and Earth – Did a classic pop and stop in a well bet debut; expect improvement from the Jerry Hollendorfer filly.

Long Shot – 2 Swissarella

Race 8 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

8 Germany Bay – Like this long shot on the stretch out; has speed to lead or sit close up, Jerry Hollendorfer value play.

11 Tiz the Truth – Was highly regarded this spring before going on the shelf; starting point for a second half campaign.

Long Shot – 6 Unusual Heatwave

Race 9 – 7 furlongs, $300,000 Del Mar Debutante, Fillies, 2-year-olds

3 Concave – Tiny edge in a difficult heat; key for me is she proved she can rate and finish in a gritty manner.

1 Awesome Baby – Among a bevy of Bob Baffert fillies in the stakes; she was super impressive in debut and is the one to beat.

Long Shot – 6 She’s Tiger

Race 10 – 1 1/16th miles (turf), Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $80,000, 3-year-olds

2 Rookie Sensation – Did everything but win last time in a top effort; should see plenty of early pace to chase.

3 Cacau – Expect speedball tactics which can be good on this course; Gary Stevens for Victor Espinoza who rides the chalk.

Long Shot – 6 Meydan Magic

Race 11 – 6 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

3 Wasted At Midnight – Chased the very fast Socialbug last time out; if she wins race 6, upgrade this one’s chances.

4 Tappingintherain – Last race may of been a furlong too far; the key is her race two back is fast enough to upset these.

Long Shot – 9 Sidebar

Best Bet – Southern Freedom (race 2)

Del Mar Friday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/2/$15.40; Long Shots, 7/1/$12.60; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Del Mar Totals – 544/126/$917.00; Long Shots, 263/43/$464.80; Best Bets, 33/9/$35.40

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #4 Flat Out (3/1) in race 10 at Saratoga. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Promise Me More ran out at Saratoga. Stats – 146/96/$775.50; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick