Horse Racing: Today at Del Mar, November 12

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 – 6 ½ furlongs, Purse $52,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds and up

3 Picasso’s Mandolin – Ran a strong race when second in career debut; trainer Ron Ellis has an uncoupled entry so caveat emptor, this one has a good chance to improve.

4 Seattle Serenade – FTS from the maestro Jerry Hollendorfer barn; note that the colt cost $1-million at Keeneland sales, waited until late 3-YO season to debut.

Long Shot – 6 Power of Hope

Race 2 – 1 mile, Purse $16,000, Claiming $8,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

5 No Tricks for Jack – Sharp win in last so the $64K question is will she repeat the effort; from a good barn in Robertino Diodoro and does have some back class to her.

1 Midnight Lady – If you notice the trainer Miguel Delgado, he is taking over for Julio Canani who got into some trouble recently; has speed from the rail at a mile.

Long Shot – 6 Tell Her Yes

Race 3 – 6 furlongs, Purse $30,000, Maiden claiming $62,500, Fillies, 2-year-olds

7 Sweet Invention – You’ll have a huge edge over me in seeing the tote board action on the half dozen FTS; this one is from top trainer Dan Hendricks.

1 Straight N Strong – The only horse with experience has run a couple races fast enough to test the rest; speed to lead and play catch me if you can.

Long Shot – 6 Hell On Heels

Race 4 – 6 furlongs, Purse $22,000, Claiming $25,000, 2-year-olds

5 Courageous Dave – Like the cutback in distance for this trainer Doug O’Neill charge; his race two back, if repeated, would land this one in the winner’s circle.

3 Brownie Finale – Turned in a cropper last time when he hardly ran at all; with horses like this you need to be forgiving as his race two back was a good one.

Long Shot – 1 Carlos Dangerous

Race 5 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $52,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds

8 Gio Mio – His sire Gio Ponti was a champion turf horse so first time turf carries a lot of promise; plus gets class relief from two stakes for this Cal-bred MSW.

5 And Then Some – Another horse with good enough pedigree to handle the transfer to grass; in both of his sprint races, he looks like a horse that wants to go longer.

Long Shot – 3 Packin Heat

Race 6 – 5 ½ furlongs, Purse $53,000, Optional claiming $80,000, Fillies, 2-year-olds

3 One Last Shot – The best race of her brief career came on Del Mar dirt and she won for fun; so after two turf tries, Bob Baffert returns her to dirt so caveat emptor.

1 Uptown Twirl – Broke thru with a big second in the Anoakia last time out; if she can build on that for trainer John Sadler, no reason she can’t upset these.

Long Shot – 2 Miss Big Stuff

Race 7 – 5 furlongs (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $59,000, Optional claiming $80,000, 3-year-olds and up

2 Holy Lute – Draw a line thru last in the Woodford in a surface switch debacle; he is a grass sprinter thru and thru and should excel as long as this stays on grass.

5 Hay Dude – This is clearly a stepping stone race for 2-turns grass takes down the road; expect apprentice David Lopez to sit a trip and come running with a wide rally.

Long Shot – 1 El Nino Terrible

Race 8 – 6 furlongs, Purse $28,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, Cal-breds, Fillies, 2-year-olds

6 Tiz Pleasant – Been knocking on the door but can’t get in, into the winner’s circle that is; key vote is Rafael Bejarano sticks around for this cheap finale race.

10 Cordiality – Popped with a nice second in last with bugboy Ty Kennedy up; he is replaced by another good looking apprentice in David Lopez, lateral jockey move.

Long Shot – 11 Princess Kendra

Best Bet – 2 Holy Lute (race 7)

Del Mar Sunday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 18/6/$37.20; Long Shots, 7/1/$15.60; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.40

Del Mar Totals – 134/39/$219.80; Long Shots, 64/5/$50.60; Best Bets, 8/5/$15.40

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #3 Queen’s Parade (3/1) in race 7 at Aqueduct. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Charismatic Pulpit ran out at Churchill Downs. Stats – 167/110/$827.60; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick