Today at Del Mar, Sept. 2

TODAY AT del mar

By Richard Eng

Post Time 2:05 p.m.

Race 1 – 6 furlongs, Purse $53,000, Claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

5 Hadfunlastnight – Has a strong 5 race resume at Del Mar; Doug O’Neill is using P Val more and more lately.

3 Muchos Besos – Sight unseen since winning last out at Hollywood Park; must be a good reason to wait so long to start.

Long Shot – 8 Carbonite

Race 2 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $28,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 3-year-olds and up

9 Money Machine – Sliding down the maiden claiming ladder to this lowest level; like that Garrett Gomez takes the call.

8 Wildcat Candy – After 2 good 2nds is a tepid chalk over a modest bunch; need not be much to graduate tonight.

Long Shot – 3 Fight the Power

Race 3 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $25,000, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

5 Warren’s Rosebud – Woke up with a big effort last time in Del Mar debut; tactical speed to sit a nice trip.

8 Tangerine Tickle – Interesting price play on the stretch out; should be able to handle the 2-turns and fight it out late.

Long Shot – 2 Tiz a Kiss

Race 4 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds

9 Jojo Warrior – FTS from the top baby barn of Bob Baffert; watch the tote board for more clues.

8 Salsita – FTS from the hot Peter Miller barn; been working fast, gets solid speed rider Edwin Maldonado for a speed effort.

Long Shot – 2 Mostro Bella

Race 5 – 6 furlongs $150,000 I’m Smokin, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds

2 Solid Wager – First time gelding today, the ultimate equipment change; big rider switch to hard trying Garrett Gomez.

6 Aotearoa – Leonard Powell has been a story this meet; he’s come out of nowhere to be sizzling white hot throughout.

Long Shot – 1 Gangnam Guy

Race 6 – 1 mile (turf), $100,000 Oak Tree Juvenile Fillies Turf, Fillies, 2-year-olds

10 Tiz the Key – How many times have you seen Richard Mandella run a maiden in a stakes?; I thought so, the one to fear.

1 Clenor – Pick 6 C/O of $297K starts right here; the cards have been so tough there’s seemingly been a carryover every other day.

Long Shot -9 Pleasant Miss

Race 7 – 6 furlongs, Purse $62,000, Claiming $50,000, 3-year-olds

7 Scherer Magic – John Sadler has an uncoupled entry, so caveat emptor; this one gets a big rider switch to Joe Talamo.

3 Sacred Ovation – Tepid chalk in an incredibly difficult leg 2 of the pick 6; there are almost no throw outs in the field.

Long Shot – 6 Life a Riley

Race 8 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds

3 Georgia – FTS from the high powered Bob Baffert barn; the tote board figures to be singing, but others have talent in this field.

5 Belle of the Fleet – Did everything but win in debut when a stride late; will improve with the experience for Dan Hendricks.

Long Shot – 1 Pretty Storm

Race 9 – 1 1/16th miles (turf), $150,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

5 Egg Drop – Has really found her stride when switched to grass; tactical speed to sit a nice stalking trip.

7 Halo Dolly – She will be a single for many, but not for me; this race is a lot tougher than it appears on paper.

Long Shot – 4 In the Stars

Race 10 – 6 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds

3 Even to the Moon – Solid second in debut in a fast paced race; Rafael Bejarano could have a big say in today’s pick 6 result.

1 Go First – Cost me a lot of money last time when DQ’d from win; it was a good call, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

Long Shot – 6 Southern Digs

Race 11 – 1 1/8th miles (turf), Purse $75,000, 3-year-olds and up

3 Layton Register – Was stuck down inside and never really had a clean trip to accelerate; suspect there’s more in the gas tank.

1 Cervaro – Will be the favorite of many; thing is his rail trip and closer style will leave him at the mercy of the pace.

Long Shot – 6 Carrytheteam

Best Bet – 9 Money Machine (race 2)

Del Mar Sunday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 21/4/$28.40; Long Shots, 10/2/$24.20; Best Bet, 1/1/$5.00

Del Mar Totals – 586/135/$972.00; Long Shots, 283/46/$500.00; Best Bets, 35/10/$40.40

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #9 Strong Mandate (6/1) in race 9 at Saratoga. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Sweet Reason won at Saratoga paying $7.00 to win, $4.40 to place and $3.10 to show. Stats – 148/98/$795.70; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick