Horse Racing: Today at Del Mar, August 22

By Richard Eng

Post Time 2:05 p.m.

Race 1 – 1 mile, Purse $38,000, Claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds

3 Beast of Bourbon – Claimed in last by Ron Ellis, and he doesn’t take very many; expect immediate improvement.

1 Hardliner – Rail hugger looked good in last when a close second; that was his first race for a price tag.

Long Shot – 4 Hunger

Race 2 – 1 mile, Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $25,000, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

7 Hey Cowboy – Has won two straight and faces another group she can handle; must overcome a parking lot post.

1 Toomanytomatoes – Mike Mitchell drops her lower than the price he claimed her for; that tells me its all or nothing today.

Long Shot – 6 Cotton’s Point

Race 3 – 1 3/8th miles (turf, rail at 14 feet), Purse $80,000, Optional claiming $62,500, 3-year-olds and up

4 Irish Surf – Has put together two big wins, but is handled gingerly by Dan Hendricks; no stakes till he uses up his conditions.

2 Dreamcatcher – Has closed strongly his last two starts; that fits the preferred riding style of Julien Leparoux.

Long Shot – 3 Starspangled Heat

Race 4 – 6 furlongs, Purse $38,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, 2-year-olds

8 Mr. Cactus – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; was bet in both career starts.

10 Market Notes – Pleasanton invader facing a tougher group tonight; adding blinkers on for Jeff Bonde.

Long Shot – 6 Smokin’ Ten

Race 5 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

7 Koko Loca – Sliding down the claiming ladder to this career low level; need not be much to handle this group.

10 Full’s Figurehead – Speedball drops down in search of victory; expect speedball tactics from a wide out post.

Long Shot – 6 Warren’s Judy

Race 6 – 6 furlongs, Purse $43,000, Starter allowance $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

3 Here’s To Rose – Claimed from a maiden claiming win by Adam Kitchingman; like that she is protected tonight.

2 Midnight Lady – John Sadler knows he must beat one of his exes in Here’s To Rose; key vote comes from Rafael Bejarano.

Long Shot – 1 Lets Get Frisky

Race 7 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 14 feet), Purse $85,000, Optional claiming $100,000, 3-year-olds and up

3 Winning Prize – One of the better turf horses to come out of Argentina; arrives in the Neil Drysdale barn, Rafael Bejarano up.

6 Chips All In – He’s a tiger on turf and prefers it that way; tactical speed to sit a nice trip throughout.

Long Shot – 2 Compari

Race 8 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $28,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, Fillies, 2-year-olds

9 Tookmebysurprise – Steve Miyadi has sent nothing but live horses down to Del Mar; this one has a big shot in a slow field.

4 Ascription – Doug O’Neill barn keeps rolling along on hot coals; using his main man Mario Gutierrez.

Long Shot – 7 Sweet Millicent

Best Bet – 3 Beast of Bourbon (race 1)

Del Mar Wednesday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/3/$27.20; Long Shots, 7/2/$15.20; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Del Mar Totals – 432/100/$749.80; Long Shots, 210/28/$308.60; Best Bets, 26/5/$20.40

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #3 Sam’s Buck (12/1) in race 5 at Saratoga. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Wednesay, Cowboy Prince ran second at Saratoga paying $4.20 to place and $2.90 to show. Stats – 140/92/$749.30; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick