Today at Del Mar, August 8

By Richard Eng

Post Time 2:05 p.m.

Race 1 – 1 1/16th miles (turf, rail at 14 feet), Purse $48,000, Claiming $32,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

3 Smart Striking – Consistent turf sort faces a less than sterling group for $32K price tag; tiny edge in a tight fit.

1 Koko Loca – Chalk is running for a price tag for the first time; hot Doug O’Neill barn won three races on Wednesday.

Long Shot – 4 Distant Image

Race 2 – 6 furlongs, Purse $33,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, Fillies, 2-year-olds

7 Patty Wack – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; need not be much in a slow looking group.

5 Swiss Sugar – Tepid chalk ran a whopping 28 Beyer last time out; race you can time with a sundial.

Long Shot – 3 Raja’s Rose

Race 3 – 5 furlongs (turf, rail at 14 feet), Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $25,000, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

1 Horsesanddivorces – Speed and the rail works well in Del Mar turf sprints; the inner rail is out 14 feet too.

2 Promiscuoussuances – She has good early speed too and a speed jockey in Edwin Maldonado; on the engine from the get go.

Long Shot – 4 Atta Girl Alma

Race 4 – 1 mile, Purse $48,000, Claiming $32,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds and up

4 Tebowing – Dead late closer gets a rider switch to Corey Nakatani; has woken up of late with live mounts and wins.

6 Akiss Forarose – Garrett Gomez taken off his mounts again today; Edwin Maldonado gets the live pick up mount.

Long Shot – 3 Rolanda

Race 5 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 14 feet), Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds

1 Oso Smart – Expensive claim for $50K two back by Anthony Saavedra; showed huge improvement in last and is capable here.

5 Carson’s Ten – This Garrett Gomez mount goes to Corey Nakatani; debuted in a stakes, now Mike Pupye adding blinkers on.

Long Shot – 3 Be You

Race 6 – 6 furlongs, Purse $48,000, Claiming $32,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

2 Woebegon – Claimed by Robertino Diodoro off a sharp win; consistent filly is constantly changing hands.

6 Justalittleloopy – Alberto Delgado has looked good in the few chances he’s had; big class dropper offers some value.

Long Shot – 3 Madoffwiththemoney

Race 7 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 14 feet), Purse $85,000, Optional claiming $100,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

5 Miss Ellany – John Sadler is leading trainer so far this meet; he’s saved a lot of equine bullets to fire at Del Mar.

4 Dancingtothestars – Hot Doug O’Neill barn has to be respected; I’m a big fan of Mario Gutierrez, fine ride on Concave yesterday.

Long Shot – 1 Little Emily

Race 8 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $25,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up

5 Bardy – Got a test drive in last off a 10-month hiatus; he has good 2-turn races under his best, this is the money shot.

1 Chocolatier – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; more lumber from the John Sadler yard.

Long Shot – 12 Mr. Fitzramathorn

Best Bet – 1 Oso Smart (race 5)

Del Mar Wednesday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/4/$28.80; Long Shots, 8/1/$8.60; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Del Mar Totals – 269/59/$433.80; Long Shots, 133/18/$227.80; Best Bets, 16/4/$17.80

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #3 Palace Dreams (5/2) in race 9 at Saratoga. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Wednesday, West Hills Giant won at Saratoga paying $3.20 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.20 to show. Stats – 130/83/$622.70; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick