Today at Del Mar: July 27, 2014

TODAY AT DEL MAR by Richard Eng

Post Time 2 p.m.

Race 1 – 6 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up

11 Tribalist – Could be among the shortest priced favorites on the card; being chalk at Del Mar has been a negative this meet.

2 Bookworm – FTS from the high profile Bob Baffert barn; watch the tote board for clues.

Long Shot – 9 Badasmywifeletsmeb

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

9 Soul Flyer – Expect a rider switch as Drayden Van Dyke has had two hard spills on consecutive days; he figures to be body sore.

7 Take It Easyplease – Steve Miyadi horses have been training at Golden Gate; they have Tapeta so they have some experience.

Long Shot – 1 Desert Steel

Race 3 – 1 1/8th miles, Purse $28,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds and up

3 Friendly Banter – Claimed by Bob Hess and spotted nicely to win first out; he has been using his main man Kent Desormeaux.

2 Welcome Home Ryan – Jeff Mullins claimed this one two races ago; he drops lower than the claim price in search of victory.

Long Shot – 1 Street Serenade

Race 4 – 1 mile, Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $20,000, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

7 Chati’s On Top – Ran well in a grass stakes at Golden Gate; she has a strong synthetic resume to boot.

1 Tiz a Kiss – Saving ground is good, especially at the mile distance; the first turn is a short run from the start.

Long Shot – 8 Quinnette

Race 5 – 1 1/16th miles, $150,000 California Dreamin’ Handicap, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up

1 Rock Me Baby – This race has been switched to the main track; can hug the rail under Corey Nakatani and fire when ready.

12 Ethnic Dance – Must overcome a parking lot post in a now synthetic route race; has speed to lead or follow close up.

Long Shot – 8 Unusual Heatwave

Race 6 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $24,000, Claiming $16,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

12 Nothing But Air – Big class dropper from the Philip D’Amato barn; nothing is given away at Del Mar in search of victory.

7 Tim’s Go Girl – Claimed by Bill Morey and pointed specifically for a synthetic start; tactical speed to sit a decent trip.

Long Shot – 13 Golden Celestial

Race 7 – 6 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds

1 Starlet O’Hara – Got off to a bad start, but instead of giving up was passing horses like a jet late; Victor Espinosa rides today.

9 Make the Sun Shine – Ship and win horses must be given a second look in all races; this one is from the powerful Mark Casse barn.

Long Shot – 5 Morning Coffee

Race 8 – 6 furlongs, $300,000 Bing Crosby, 3-year-olds and up

2 Goldencents – Grade 1 winner ran a tremendous second in the Met Mile; chased Horse of the Year candidate Palice Malice.

7 Kobe’s Back – Something always seems to go wrong for this colt; he is a dead late closer but needs better racing luck.

Long Shot – 5 Seeking the Sherif

Race 9 – 1 1/16th miles (turf, rail at 6 feet), Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $80,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

4 Personal Diary – This race has been switched to the main track; has a solid turf resume, that should transfer to synthetics.

10 Vanlose Stairway – John Sadler legs up his main man Rafael Bejarano; has excellent turf pedigree, should transfer over OK.

Long Shot – 2 Sistas Stroll

Race 10 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $38,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

11 Q’Viva – Expect Rafael Bejarano to take charge of this meet, sooner or later; he must carve a trip from a parking lot post.

5 Mom’s Winner – Big trainer change off the claim by Ron Ellis; expect improvement first time for new barn.

Long Shot – 3 Runningwiththelute

Best Bet – 2 Goldencents (race 8)

Del Mar Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 18/4/$34.80; Long Shots, 9/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Del Mar Totals – 147/27/$208.20; Long Shots, 73/4/$44.40; Best Bets, 7/1/$6.60

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #9 Eurokay be Me (6/1) in race 7 at Saratoga. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Loves Last Chance ran out at Monmouth Park. Stats – 114/69/$660.00; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick