Horse Racing: Today at Del Mar, July 26

Race 1 – 6 furlongs, Purse $43,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

4 Off the Deep End – This is the way I’ve been feeling with how random the results have been at Del Mar; from Peter Miller barn.

6 Presiding Justice – The shortest priced horse to win on Friday was 4/1 odds; this has been a long shot players paradise, I think.

Long Shot – 1 Grand Humor

Race 2 – 5 furlongs (turf, rail at 6 feet), Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

5 Bettys Bambino – If you follow my handicapping over the years, you know I like cut backs in distance; especially with internal speed.

10 Incline Village – Logical chalk is 6-of-7 in the money on grass; Brian Koriner has an uncoupled entry, so keep an eye on Kochees.

Long Shot – 2 Kochees

Race 3 – 5 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies, 2-year-olds

4 Tatum’s Gold – I’m not going to give up the angle that Steve Miyadi has trained these horses over Tapeta surface up at Golden Gate.

2 Appealing Lady – When John Sadler gets together with Rafael Bejarano, that gets my attention; watch the tote board for clues.

Long Shot – 7 Sweet Mz. Poppet

Race 4 – 7 furlongs, $200,000 Fleet Treat, Cal-breds, Fillies, 3-year-olds

2 Sunday Rules – If this filly doesn’t run well today, I may have to climb a wall somewhere; two monster Del Mar wins last summer.

3 Bonus Spin – Jeff Mullins barn is beginning to awake like Rip Van Winkle; this one could sit a trip and try to run on late.

Long Shot – 1 Sprouts

Race 5 – 1 1/16th miles (turf, rail at 6 feet), Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

6 Winning Rhythm – If you are a forgiving handicapper, like me, you will bet back on horses like this; was eased last time out.

2 Baruta – Logical chalk gets a new pilot with Gary Stevens undergoing knee replacement surgery; Victor Espinoza will do fine.

Long Shot – 9 Magnificent Shirl

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

4 Homer Matt – I respect a horse who debuted in a stakes and ran well; gets class relief, I assume, to face this MSW condition.

1 Texas Red – Ran well in debut over Polytrack at Arlingto Park; like that Desormeaux rides for Desormeaux, keep it in the family.

Long Shot – 8 Harmonic

Race 7 – 1 mile, Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

4 Thundergram – Was thought of enough to be a long shot starter in the Arkansas Derby; Mark Casse is a razor sharp trainer.

2 Big Cazanova – Has never raced on synthetics, but has three good turf races to rely upon; we’ve seen a lot of chalk go up in flames.

Long Shot – 9 R S Watson

Race 8 – 1 1/16th miles, $200,000 San Diego Handicap, 3-year-olds and up

3 Frac Daddy – Ken McPeek colt has proven he loves a synthetic surface; but is Del Mar the same as Woodbine and Keeneland Polytrack.

2 Imperative – One of the best claiming stories for a small barn; shows there are a lot of capable horsemen if given good horses.

Long Shot – 8 Summer Hit

Race 9 – 1 1/16th miles (turf, rail at 6 feet), Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds and up

4 Candy Shoes – Tries grass for the first time; like his turf pedigree and first time blinkers on for Jerry Hollendorfer.

12 Grachus the Hunter – Kent Desormeaux will need all his guile to carve out a trip from parking lot post 12; that’s why he’s a HOF.

Long Shot – 1 Nowalking

Race 10 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $24,000, Claiming $16,000, 3-year-olds and up

3 The Tom Squad – So how many people will win the Pick 6 today, three, two, one, none; like this ship and win to upset.

11 Heyyoucan – I respect anything that is coming out of Peter Miller’s barn; they train down in San Luis Rey Downs and fire.

Long Shot – 6 Copper Bay

Best Bet – 2 Sunday Rules (race 4)

Del Mar Friday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/1/$16.00; Long Shots, 8/2/$20.20; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Del Mar Totals – 129/23/$173.40; Long Shots, 64/4/$44.40; Best Bets, 7/1/$6.60

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #9 Loves Last Chance (7/2) in race 7 at Monmouth Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Qualify ran third at Saratoga paying $2.70 to show. Stats – 113/69/$660.00; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick