Today at Del Mar: July 20, 2014

TODAY AT DEL MAR by Richard Eng

Post Time 2 p.m.

Race 1 – 6 furlongs, Purse $28,000, Claiming $12,500, Fillies, 3-year-olds

1 L T Reckless – Red flag drop off a sharp win at Santa Anita; key is at Del Mar, owners are willing to drop in class to win a race.

2 When I’m Calling U – Dead late closer will need some pace to chase; solid synthetics record up at Golden Gate Fields.

Long Shot – 7 Yodel Up a Storm

Race 2 – 1 mile, Purse $53,000, Claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

1 Zimmer – Won his only turf start at Del Mar at 1 mile; has done well down the hill in Arcadia, stretches out tonight.

5 Tigah – Takes a huge class drop for John Sadler; as I wrote earlier, red flag drops happen at Del Mar as owners want to win.

Long Shot – 3 Pulpit’s Express

Race 3 – 1 mile, Purse $28,000, Claiming $12,500, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

4 Thermal Nermal – This is another big drop down horse early in the card; owners want their picture taken at Del Mar.

5 Joeandbetty’sbaby – Tepid chalk has never raced on Del Mar synthetics; has a solid grass resume, which can transfer over.

Long Shot – 9 Itz a Saint

Race 4 – 5 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds

4 Tara’s Tango – Jerry Hollendorfer gets a lot of talented babies to train; key vote comes from Mike Smith on this filly.

1 Maybellene – No one has more talented babies than the Bob Baffert barn; this one figures to be singing on the tote board.

Long Shot – 6 Daddy’s Duo

Race 5 – 1 1/8th miles (turf), $300,000 Eddie Read, 3-year-olds and up

6 Tom’s Tribute – Turf specialist has been pointing for this race; James Cassidy flies under the radar, but he can hit the target.

2 Summer Front – Logical chalk has been flying back east and back, that can’t be good; dead late closer will need pace to chase.

Long Shot – 4 Horizontalyspeakin

Race 6 – 6 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

5 Shysheisnot – She has the most experience in the field; John Sadler liked her enough to run in a stakes at a maiden 2-YO.

7 Steel Lady – FTS has a key vote, Rafael Bejarano to ride; he’s teamed up with Jorge Gutierrez for many a score in the past.

Long Shot – 1 Stylistic

Race 7 – 1 1/16th miles (turf), Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

4 Snaps – Logical chalk has shown vast improvement since joining the Richard Mandella barn; tactical speed to lead or sit close up.

6 Press Baron – Ship and win horse has a good turf resume back east; rejoins the Paddy Gallagher barn who trained him last winter.

Long Shot – 9 Valley Cat

Race 8 – 5 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds

8 Luminance – The 2-YO races start and end with Bob Baffert barn; they all cost a zillion dollars and are working bullets in the a.m.

3 Conquest Archangel – Chased the very good Take Charge Brandi who just ran at Saratoga; one step improvement will make her tough.

Long Shot – 4 Partyin

Race 9 – 6 furlongs, Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

12 D’ya Knowwhatimean – Has been knocking heads versus better in stakes; gets class relief and just might upset at a price.

11 Sweet Profit – Ran great in MSW debut win; key question is that was February and she has not been seen since.

Long Shot – 8 Mum’s Truckee

Race 10 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $53,000, Claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

9 Redressthebalance – Returns to the class level she was claimed at; was overmatched in the Royal Heroine, these are her friends.

3 Noise of the Crowd – Her best turf races have come down the hillside turf course; will need to stretch her speed out today.

Long Shot – 7 Boller Bomb

Race 11 – 7 furlongs, Purse $25,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up

9 Play Maker – Dead late closer can climb over the cheap early speed in here; grinder is a square price to upset in the finale.

7 Lucky Jack – Tepid chalk takes a steep class drop in search of victory; like the cut back in distance, blinkers off today too.

Long Shot – 1 Burning

Best Bet – 6 Tom’s Tribute (race 5)

Del Mar Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 21/5/$37.00; Long Shots, 10/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Del Mar Totals – 56/12/$85.60; Long Shots, 28/1/$14.80; Best Bets, 3/0/$0

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #3 Sabouli (12/1) in race 9 at Saratoga. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, North Star Boy won at Saratoga paying $11.60 to win, $5.20 to place and $3.90 to show. Stats – 110/68/$657.30; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick