
Del Mar for Friday 4 September 2020
2020 Kentucky Derby day full card selections : Do not miss out on our full card (likely 14 races) special pub. for Kentucky Derby day on 5 September. Please sign up as soon as possible as logistically speaking it helps us out. As usual the selections will be sent to your email at about 4 p.m. pacific on Friday the 4th. Click on 2020 Derby logo to buy.
Del Mar for Saturday will be posted no later than 5 a.m. pacific on Saturday morning because of the early start at Churchill.
Best of luck as always!
race 1Â Â average clarity
4 Allie's Pal  very steady decent work tab for this Wong MC 1st time starter with only one drill I would call dull......and she shows some hints of early speed in her works which makes sense as mom had some early foot........decent 7 lbs bug boy up........like her debut chances if the kid gives her a good ride
6 Taming the Tigress  both lifetime races were run at the MSW and fit well at today's MC50K level.......blinkers off for Miller and that is one of the leading trainer's stronger stats.....Prat wisely sticks with the two year old filly for a 3rd straight race
7 Bingos System  filly showed some ability in her MC debut earning a number that is decent enough that if she builds on the effort she should have a shot at the circle of joy this afternoon
2Â Clubhouse Saint
race 2Â Â Â average clarity
7 Chipper  2 of his 3 lifetime races are both much better than par Santucci figs and they are both disguised in their strength by about 5L of trip adjustment.........trainer is very good at getting laid up sprinters ready to roll.........1st on the sod but bred to handle it.........Prat was up when last seen on the 1st of Dec. and is up today as well
2 Coalinga Road  dangerous inside speed and this gelding has exited the gate well in both lifetime starts........solid preparatory works and 1st time leading turf jock Rispoli up hinting Carla Gaines has her three year old ready off of a layoff
4 Master Ryan  just keeps getting better.......and better......and better.......and if the trend continues he has a big shot at reaching the winners circle this afternoon
6Â Count Alexei
8Â R Matineigh Idol
race 3Â Â average clarity
7 Just Grace  Bob Hess and company have a big incentive to have this capable 3 for 5 filly ready fresh off of the bench as she is eligible for the extra $$ for out of town runners.......2 for 2 in claiming races vs slightly better
2 Give Me a Hint  most of the time today's drop would be very alarming but that is not necessarily the case when the trainer is Peter Miller who is seldom afraid to drop a given horse precipitously to get them to the winners circle
10 Tiz Toffee  five year old mare seems best on the Del Mar dirt where she owns 2 wins, 2 2nds & a 3rd in 6 starts...........and the only time she competed at 5 1/2F she won........high % trainer in Rosemary Trela albeit with limited starters
3Â Easy Grader
5Â Chay Up and Away
race 4Â Â below average clarity
3 Lady On Ice  ran rather decently for a filly who had no support at the windows in her MC40K today........doubt she was fully cranked for her debut.........decent chance she benefited from the race..........drops to MC20K where she might have been pointed to all along
4 She B Salty  Puype is much better than average getting MC debut runners to fire at 1st asking.........numerous weekly drills put in and with the last 8 put in at Del Mar.........mom has tossed a winner from one starter........youngster likely will be ignored some at the windows
9 Miss Mozart  2nd out after a layoff.......hot rider/trainer combo at the meeting.......mid pack runner with enough speed signed up to help her cause
10Â Second Avenue
7Â Save the Story
race 5Â Â below average clarity
3 Freedom Flyer  purchased at two for $450K so the connections got a good assessment of what they were getting.......works hint that this filly has speed........Prat is 4 for his last 8 over the last 2 months riding for Callaghan and with 3 others in the money........filly does face males but she is bred well for the turf and training sharply
5 Run Snappy  bad trip in his MSW debut (ran awfully green) where our 3rd pick beat him by 4L but they earned the same Santucci fig......blinkers on to help his focus......2 solid drills put in since the his 14 August debut hinting he exited the race in great shape
6 Commander Khai  decent debut but this Baltas colt did get away on the lead with very soft splits........so if he is a need the lead type his speed needs a boosting or he likely won't see the lead again.......but there then again there aren't many reasons not to think that he can race well without the lead
1Â Stratofortress
10Â Lochinvar
race 6Â Â average clarity
1 Principe Carlo  talk about a horse who likes a particular distance.........(7 4 3 0) at today's 6 1/2 furlong dirt distance........claimed for 20K so the drop isn't much of a concern especially taking into consideration that he is racing for a $57K purse.......good history dealing with post 1.........and today he gets the best rider on his back in some time
4 Rookie Mistake  tough to tell if he is up to his "A game" this afternoon but if he is he has as good a chance of taking down this race as anyone in the field
2 Quick Finish  six year old gelding can get a nice stalking trip which he seems to appreciate as many of his top efforts have come when he grabs the position.........gelding hasn't run a bad race in 2020 but he has yet to win with 3 2nd's and a 3rd........good rider/trainer combo in Rispoli and Blacker
5Â Handsome Cat
3Â Abusive Gary
race 7Â Â average clarity
4 Sabinos Pride  not much speed signed up and this filly appears to have the most especially on the grass........and the two times she was able to get a loose lead she won.......that and she appears capable of a good race without the lead but her chances will lessen without it
6 Little Bird  seems like the best of the many late runners in the field.......2nd out after a layoff and that should be a plus as she won her 2nd lifetime start to graduate and her other win was run 2nd out after a layoff which was also 2nd start in the USA.......good grass trainer in Richard Baltas
5 White Velvet  significant jock upgrade to Prat who seldom rides for Palma...........three year old filly should get a nice stalk position which should serve him well in a race that seems to favor those close up early.........we shall see if that is so about 5 PM Pacific
7Â A G Indy
1Â Awesome Drive
race 8Â Â average clarity
4 Positivity  new trainer for today for this colt who has started his career a perfect 2 for 2........and his 2nd win was in a $100K Stakes race at Del Mar similar to today's $100K Stakes..........that and he has finished up his two races at shorter distances as if more ground to cover today will be a plus
7 Touchdown Brown  little chance in his latest which was run in the same Stakes race as our top choice..........checked plenty on the run-up and ran somewhat wide.........prior to that race he won his MSW debut by 5 1/4 lengths........blinkers on to help his focus
6 Pappy Boyington  0 for 22 at the meeting for the trainer but if this colt can run as well on the conventional dirt as he did on the AW at GG in his MSW debut the elusive win might happen right here
5Â Good With People
1Â Alpine Thunder
race 9Â Â average clarity
5 Sweet Sonny  all three lifetime races which were at the MSW level fit fine at today's MC50K level.........and with his horse up for sale Koriner doesn't mess around and gets the meets top jock to ride making for quite the rider upgrade
8 Siena Silk  works sure suggest Baltas has this 1ster ready for this MC50K.......and why not start her for a tag as she went for sale at only 37K
6 Mulligan  another Baltas 1st time starter working well enough to be dangerous in her MC debut......my guess is at least one of the Baltas horses is well meant today
2Â Queen Stormborn
4Â She Loves Karaoke