
Del Mar for Sunday 5 August 2012
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Intriguing card today starts out with a bang if the 7 horse in the first race fires. (Even for 2nd or 3rd being that he is 20 - 1 in the morning line). Good luck-a-roo to all of you!
race 1Â Â Â slightly below average clarity
7 Giant Steps   tough race but at least we have a price shot as our top pick here........checked sharply 8 or 9 lengths early because of a spill.........and still closed down a couple of lengths on the leaders despite a soft pace up front
1 Canook  finally an invader for the "ship and win" program that drops down to score.....last win 3 back at CD for the same tag as today
5 Man From Lagos  consistent sort was just snatched at the claiming box off of one of his top efforts on the conventional dirt....and he has been a better runner on AW surfaces
2 Max Cooper  Crc shipper ships in and shows up in the Hollendorfer barn....training well for 1st ever on the synthetic.....handled the turf in last so most likely will handle the AW
race 2Â Â Â slightly below average clarity
6 Boxeur Des Rues  just fired one her better races ever on the synthetic and I believe she is better on the sod.....positive rider switch......1 for 1 at at today's turf distance
4 Fire With Fire  3 of her last 4 grass races are par like efforts for today's level.....and she seems to fit best going 1 mile to 1 1/16 miles......1 1/8 seems a bit too far......retains the stellar services of Bejarano
3 Smokin' Cat  does well when gets to run back in 4 or 5 weeks like today.....should be very fit coming off a 1 1/4 mile win
5 Causeithertz  likes to sit close and looks as if she can here......shot to make it 3 in a row on the lawn after going 0 for her 1st 8 on it
race 3Â Â Â Â average clarity
6 Cat'sdoubledaygirl   Texas bred shipper is reasonably placed 1st time in the Belvoir barn......ran 2nd in MSW debut last at LS and there was a gap of 10 to 3rd....and 3rd came back to win....and last but not least he has only 5F to go......a plus for a Texas bred
3 Supreme Punch  new to the scene trainer Bruner has been up the track so far with his 5 starters but he has a TX bred 1ster training sharply.....mom has tossed 3 winners from 4 starters all of preciously won at 2
4 Ziraili  disappointed as the fave for O'Neill but continues to train decently and drops a couple of notches
7 Snackable  last fits rather well here especially if the 1sters don't fire........solid if Peter Miller filly manages a forward move
race 4Â Â Â slightly above average clarity
1 Caminetto  exits an extremely fast heat where he might have won if he didn't break a couple of lengths tardy.......3 solid works since........and most importantly Baffert trained
4 Fit To Rule  caught monsters in MSW debut last year and only got beat by 5 despite getting a 3 wide trip..........training for O'Neill like he is ready fresh once again
5 Brother Francis   obvious very strong efforts/figs to still be a MSW.......this MIGHT be a tune-up for bigger and better things going a route of ground in the future
7 Generations  Puype 1st timers is working like he is a very nice horse.....but he might need to be better than that as our top 3 runners have shown they are better than your average MSW potential winners
race 5Â Â Â average clarity
4 Celestic Night  blocked 1/2 dozen lengths in last as the favorite or would have won.........should have some horse left being blocked and all.......and drops in claiming 2 notches
6 Miles Heir  cut back of distance helps....in fact 1 for 1 at one mile on the main track.......decent chance to get a nice mid pack position behind what should be a lively pace
5 Coloursoftheglen  very consistent sort especially at 1 mile......bombed out in last but 7+ weeks off to get back on track
9 Nonsense  another who flattens at 1 1/16 and should appreciates the 1/2 furlong less (8 4 3 0) at one mile on the dirt....nowhere close to that record at 1 1/16
race 6Â Â Â slightly above average clarity
5 Christmas Secret  powerful drills for this Hendricks 1st timer and mom has tossed 8 winners from 8 starters many of which won at 2 years of age
6 Pontchatrain  works have gotten progressively better for this Thomas Proctor 1st starter........feeling good at the right time.......now
8 Magic Vixen  not as flashy a work tab as most of Baffert's 1sters but solid and well bred
3 Wasted At Midnight  Peter Miller 1st timer is working well enough to be ready in his debut as well.....might have some early gas to help him overcome his outside post
Note:  12 Mechaya has a shot if draws into the field Â
race 7Â Â Â slightly above average clarity
7 In The Stars  never ran a bad race in 6 career starts overseas.....and ran 3rd in a Grade 1 in Argentina in her last....off since December but training super for R. Mandella who is hot.....all systems go
1 Miss Cato  another ultra consistent overseas import who ran well in her U S of A debut......low % trainer but a high % rider
2 Candy Trophy  on the improve with every start and nice preparatory drills for her 1st ever at a route.....bred well to get the 1 1/16 mile distance
10 Diety    best early turf foot so he can clear from the outer-most post.....but......can he stick around......pedigree says yes.....running lines say noÂ
race 8Â Â Â slightly above average clarity
2 Moreno  broke poorly and made a very visually impressive turn move at 45 to 1.......earned a solid adjusted for trouble fig.......very formidable here if he gives the same effort with a good tripÂ
4 Scherer Magic  good debut and then ever better in 2nd lifetime start........very impressive 6F work for a baby just 6 days ago.....might be young fellow most prepared to get the 6 1/2 furlongs....should be in the hunt from the get goÂ
5 Heir Kitty  filly (versus the boys) was totally under wraps winning her debut on the grass by 4 1/2.....should have plenty in the tank for today......training as if the transition to the Dmr AW won't be a problem
1 Heir Of Storm  fairly good MSW win in his career debut........and the works since are hinting he will be even better today which of course he will need to be
race 9Â Â Â average clarity
11 Coranto  two straight bad trip races in a row earning strong adjusted for trouble Santucci figs.....claimed by Belvoir and he gets Mr Bejarano to ride....clean trip and same horse wins this
5 Extra Fifty   bad trip off of the long layoff........can move forward and will be mighty tough if he does and gets a better journey
2 Warren Cole's      layoff last was the gimme to drop out of MSW racing to the bottom and go go go 2nd out after the prolonged absence
6 Stormin Arvin  vastly improved in 2nd lifetime start....and might be on or near the lead in a race crying out for speed
13 Chicago Hero   might have enough early gas to clear
10 Willie Brown   need race 2 back with a better trip
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