Horse Racing: Today at Del Mar, July 30

Race 1 – 1 3/8th miles (turf, rail at 18 feet), Purse $80,000, Optional claiming $62,500, 3-year-olds and up

7 Big John B – Ran well in victory as a ship and win horse last time; this is supposed to be a tougher group, so we’ll see.

4 Tigah – Claimed by Barry Abrams off a win and wheeled right back; too many trainers avoid running sharp horses on short rest.

Long Shot – 5 Stoney Fleece

Race 2 – 1 mile, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

6 Live for Now – Ran well as a maiden in the grade 2 Summer Oaks; may get overbet in this spot, but a similar race is good enough.

1 West Riding – FTS from the Bob Baffert barn, need I say more; this filly is a Tapit who is all the rage as a top stallion.

Long Shot – 4 Southern Sunshine

Race 3 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 18 feet), Purse $43,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

6 Maxx the Giant – Regressed last time after a solid second two races ago; is 1-for-17 wins lifetime on grass, so caveat emptor.

9 Romar Success – Both turf races were sprints down the hillside turf course; showed strong late kick, now is stretching out in distance.

Long Shot – 4 Number Five

Race 4 – 7 furlongs, Purse $62,000, Claiming $50,000, 3-year-olds

2 Puppy Manners – If you read and follow my handicapping, you know I like cut backs; combined with a class drop, will be a handful.

4 Rocked Twice – Another cut back off a winning effort at Santa Anita Park; it’ll be John Sadler versus Jerry Hollendorfer.

Long Shot – 1 Jedi Mind Trick

Race 5 – 1 mile, Purse $28,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

5 Sheza Dish – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; facing the slowest group of his life.

6 Nero’s Pleasure – Tepid chalk in a race fraught with danger; sliding down the maiden claiming ladder to this newest low level.

Long Shot – 7 Up the Alley

Race 6 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 18 feet), Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds

10 Bollente – FTS from the powerful Mark Casse barn; he has an uncoupled entry in here so caveat emptor.

2 Seve’s Road – Ran evenly in debut at Los Alamitos; suxpect will improve with experience for Doug O’Neill.

Long Shot – 6 Mr. Chase

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

7 Wake Up Nick – Figures to be one of the shortest priced horses on the program; was flattered when Story Tell won next time out.

1 Atta’ Boy Woody – Not sure what he beat in debut, but did it easily enough; speed and the rail has been good on the main track.

Long Shot – 4 Global Magician

Race 8 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $25,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up

6 Ron’s Boy – Sliding down the maiden claiming ladder to this bottom rung; need not be much to put away this group.

1 Eleven Zip – Speed and the rail will be his road to victory; Tyler Baze likes to play catch me if you can.

Long Shot – 13 Storm the Heavens

Best Bet – 2 Puppy Manners (race 4)

Del Mar Sunday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 20/7/$50.20; Long Shots, 9/1/$9.40; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Del Mar Totals – 167/34/$258.40; Long Shots, 82/5/$53.80; Best Bets, 8/1/$6.60

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #3 Rock Me Mama (5/2) in race 4 at Saratoga. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Eurokay by Me ran out at Saratoga. Stats – 115/69/$660.00; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick