Horse racing: Today at Del Mar, July 19

TODAY AT del mar

By Richard Eng

Post Time 4 p.m.

Race 1 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $53,000, Claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

4 Toomanytomatoes – Appeared overmatched in her last two allowance races; this $40K price tag is a lot easier spot.

3 Distant Image – Claimed by Vladimir Cerin and spotted nicely to win; should be forwardly placed going from sprint to route.

Long Shot – 2 Secret Cove

Race 2 – 6 furlongs, Purse $33,000, Claiming $16,000, 3-year-olds

6 Space Runner – Claimed by Vann Belvoir after a sharp win at Pleasanton; has solid synthetics experience.

4 Luz Atticus – Favorite just missed last time at this price tag; his best races have come over the synthetics.

Long Shot – 7 Billy Win

Race 3 – 5 furlongs (turf), Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $25,000, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up

8 Field Report – Did everything but win last time in this condition; has a tendency to place and show instead of win.

4 My Slew – Been away 6-months for Peter Miller; he ran well fresh when he won at Del Mar last Sept. 5.

Long Shot – 6 Cammazes

Race 4 – 1 mile, Purse $25,000, Miden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

5 Hard Buns – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; key for me is the vote of Rafael Bejarano.

7 J K’s Mischief – Sliding down the maiden claiming ladder to this bottom rung; Doug O’Neill and Mario Gutierrez are hot.

Long Shot – 2 Magic Number

Race 5 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $38,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, Cal-breds, Fillies, 2-year-olds

5 Water Issues – Ran very green in debut, slow early, fast late; Dan Blacker adding Lasix, suspect should show improvement.

6 Yodelmesomemagic – Tepid chalk just missed last time; this is a slowpoke group so a similar effort puts her right there.

Long Shot – 2 Hot Bride

Race 6 – 1 1/16th miles (turf), Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $80,000, 3-year-olds

7 Surfcup – Bob Baffert is dangerous whether it’s his A, B or C team; Cal-bred has won 3 of her last 4 starts.

8 Pure Loyalty – Gary Stevens is showing his skills are still there; wants to pick and choose his mounts, can’t blame him.

Long Shot – 3 Little Jerry

Race 7 – 5 1/2 furlongs, $100,000 CTBA, Cal-breds, Fillies, 2-year-olds

1 Sprouts – Logical chalk off two smashing wins in a row; suspect Mario Gutierrez will just send hard from the rail.

6 Harlington’s Rose – Broke thru to graduate in last first time wearing blinker’s on; still seems a step slower than the favorite.

Long Shot – 8 Smoove It

Race 8 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $33,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

12 Tenkiller Kid – Like the turn back in distance from route to sprint; figure Rafael Bejarano to sit a trip and come firing late.

4 Major Affair – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; need not be much to cash a paycheck today.

Long Shot – 2 Brannaman

Best Bet – 1 Sprouts (race 7)

Del Mar Thursday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/6/$42.00; Long Shots, 8/1/$7.00; Best Bet, 1/1/$5.80

Del Mar Totals – 34/9/$70.80; Long Shots, 17/1/$7.00; Best Bets, 2/1/$5.80

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #1 I’ll Call (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, Sky Above won at Presque Isle Downs paying $4.00 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.60 to show. Stats – 117/74/$560.90; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick