Today at Del Mar, Aug. 18

TODAY AT DEL MAr

By Richard Eng

Post Time 2:05 p.m.

Race 1 – 1 Mile (turf, rail at 7 feet), Purse $53,000, Claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

2 Boller Bomb – Claimed by Peter Miller, who has an uncoupled entry in here; like that Garrett Gomez is riding in top form.

4 Upward Spiral – Racing first time for a price tag, $40K tonight; on the drop while others are on the rise.

Long Shot – 1 Rhodium

Race 2 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $28,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds and up

2 Royal Meridian – Switching barns to the white hot Doug O’Neill from Mike Pupye; no one said this game is fair.

5 Keyboard Courage – Claimed by Mike Pender and spotted nicely to win first out; Victor Espinoza is coming on this meet.

Long Shot – 6 Peacenik

Race 3 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $28,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds and up

2 Fear the Beard – More love for Doug O’Neill runners; sliding down the claiming ladder to this career low class.

7 Big Wags – Made a huge run but flattened out late; drops in class to face his friends at this low level.

Long Shot – 4 A Day Away

Race 4 – 6 1/2 furlongs, $150,000 Rancho Bernardo, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

1 Reneesgotzip – She was an easy winner of her comeback race in last; facing a soft group, it clearly is her race to lose.

4 Curvy Cat – Dead late closer figures to sit in arrears and make one run; suspect it may be good enough for second.

Long Shot – 5 Sweet Marini

Race 5 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 7 feet), Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

1 Kid Dreams – Ran evenly in return to SoCal last time; switches to Gary Stevens who will save ground for the money shot.

7 Tom’s Tribute – Favorite in a harder than looks turf route; showed lots of potential last out in his grass debut.

Long Shot – 4 Somethings Unusual

Race 6 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $48,000, Claiming $32,000, 3-year-olds and up

6 Hadfunlastnight – Could Doug O’Neill win an equador, or even more races, tonight; incredible how hot the barn is going now.

8 Gnarly Dude – Second start off the claim by John Sadler; speedball will like the slight drop in class too.

Long Shot – 9 Coo Cachoo

Race 7 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds

7 Spring Agan – The field is all FTS except for one horse; this one from Wesley Ward who is an accomplished baby trainer.

10 Wild Caroline – Has been working up a storm for Mike Pupye; will hold value as Bob Baffert has a 3-prong uncoupled entry.

Long Shot – 9 Bosserette

Race 8 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 7 feet), $150,000 Solana Beach Handicap, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

4 Heat Trap – Had a pocket trip in last before busting out too late; perfect prep for first stakes try, high ceiling for sure.

1 Unusual Hottie – Proven Cal-bred star in this turf division; will save all the ground under Joe Talamo.

Long Shot – 2 Halo Dotty

Race 9 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds

5 Tamarando – Showed good improvement in second career start for the maestro Jerry Hollendorfer; one more step forward does it.

4 Time to Go Robo – Walther Solis has an uncoupled entry so caveat emptor; both are live so watch the tote board for clues.

Long Shot – 10 Even to the Moon

Race 10 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 7 feet), Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds and up

5 Red Vine – After two preps in NY, is sent out to devour this group by Christophe Clement; was favored in both eastern starts.

2 Just Fishin – Getting a little long in the tooth, but has ability to upset; tactical speed to sit a trip for Julien Leparoux.

Long Shot – 3 Maxx the Giant

Best Bet – 1 Reneesgotzip (race 4)

Del Mar Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 19/5/$32.80; Long Shots, 9/2/$16.60; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Del Mar Totals – 398/90/$683.40; Long Shots, 193/25/$286.40; Best Bets, 24/4/$17.80

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #2 Tapicat (9/5) in race 8 at Saratoga. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, The Apache ran second at Arlington Park paying $7.80 to place and $5.60 to show. Stats – 138/91/$742.20; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick