Del Mar for Saturday 25 July 2015
The track settled down some yesterday after the dull inside that we had to deal with on Thursday. OK card today. On the 1 to 10 scale of things I would rate it a 6.
race 1 Â Â average clarity
1  Stormin Trick  3 of 4 lifetime dirt races fit well at today's lower level......trainer seems to be in win mode (and this three-year old has zero wins in 6 starts in MSW races) so the drop into state-bred 50K maiden claiming doesn't concern me much
3  Pleasure Point  claimed by Lewis way back in December and has been off since.........very nice tightly spaced endurance building work regiment.......seems ready to rock and roll.....should be motoring late
4  Lucky Reality  decent MSW debut in Jan.......drops for 2nd lifetime start.....low % barn but they did win yesterday.......another dangerous MSW to maiden claiming laid up runner
7  Sindy's Luck  missing in action since Feb. but has shown he can run fresh in the past......and he draws Stevens also hinting he is ready for his new trainer
race 2 Â Â average clarity
10  Fit To Rule  consistent sort moved forward 1st out after the Stute claim.......drops one notch and has 2 recent reassuring works.....same or better seem likely today
3 Â Warren's Joe T. Â drops from the sky but why not as he has run this low before and the purse money at Dmr is ever so nice
1  Becker's Galaxy  ultra consistent on conventional dirt (17 7 3 5) horse invading from the Big Apple......like his stalking style......should be a player here
11  Antinanco  1 for 1 at today's distance....toss out last as it was a nasty pace........will likely attempt to fly early and clear as many as possible to get some decent position on turn 1
Long-shot consideration:  4  Storm Fashion  dangerous high % trainer with shippers......colt has done nothing earnings wise since he was claimed 4 races back.......get out day for Steve Sherman and company
race 3 Â Â average clarity
3  Sheer Pleasure  done little wrong in 4 lifetime dirt races when the rider doesn't fall off.......2 for 2 in State-bred $200K stakes......shot to make it 3 for 3
2  Big Break  nice forward move in 2nd lifetime start and retains Bejarano for a 3rd straight race......cut back of one furlong should be a plus for today's 7F affair especially since she won her only one turn race
6  Kiss At Midnight  vastly improved since Richard Baltas claimed.....does lose his buddy Beajarno......great shot for Midwest jock to impress some folks as he is off to a disappointing start in S Cal so far
race 4 Â Â below average clarity
4  A Colt Following  2 for 2 with 2 months off which is the case for today......impressive win in last one claiming notch lower........as he ran way too wide and still managed to get to the circle of joy
7  Great Lou  might be able to clear the field here and if he does...........he..........might..........go..........all............way
6  Bandido Too  has caught some fast heats in his last 4 races .......and back to Bejarano for today who is (4 1 2 1) aboard him
8  Flight Thru  likely needs a small forward move today and might provide one back in 9 days rest......might have exited his latest in great shape for Peter Miller to wheel him back so quick
race 5 Â Â average clarity
8  Perfectly Majestic  good history down the hill at SA.....lone turf route race looks poor on paper but toss it out because it was a pace-less race where a legit fig was basically impossible to produce......seems to run best for today's jock Kent Desormeaux
2  Son of Jazz  on the right end of the learning curve and seems best at today's one mile turf distance......low % jock but not in turf routes which is kind of his niche these days
1  Something Unusual  disqualified from first and placed fifth (ouch!) in his last which was at today's same level.......see you Van Dyke.......hello Mike Smith
11  It's Living Water  fits this level well but 4th pick because of his post.....and because........ one mile hasn't been his best turf distance to date
Long-shot consideration:  4  Luckbox Sam  has run fresh in the past and sure is training as if he feels good and is ready to roll......might bring "A game" and his top efforts are quite good
race 6 Â Â average clarity
4  Dressed in Hermes  110:4 !!!!!......one week ago at Slr and decent works prior to that......Armstrong 1ster sure looks preccious and well prepared for the 1st 6F 2 year race of the year
7  Exaggerator  26 to 1 in debut says the effort was needed.......legged up and ready to move forward today in 2nd lifetime start.....should love the extra furlong for today
1  Path of David  OK works prior to his debut at CD which wasn't bad......much better works since his 1st start.......draws Bejarano......hmmmm
2  American League  bet very hard in MSW debut and ran a par like effort......a ton if moves forward today.....but that is somewhat debatable as geared up and meant as he was for his debut
Long-shot consideration:  6  Prime Attraction   awfully solid work regiment to be 20 to 1 in the ML......expensive purchase sure is bred to appreciate the 6 furlongs at two in July.....Cassidy and friends might have waited for the 1st 6F race for babies
race 7 Â Â average clarity
6  Warren's Gin Fizz  trainer shows signs of snapping out of the doldrums......and the horse shows his best set of preparatory works in many a moon......2 for 3 at the distance on the grass......0 for 6 at other turf distances
3  Chaulk O Lattey  Baltas/Bejarano/good post (hard to beat that three-way).....and very consistent on the grass.....2 for 2 in the win column with Bejarano up.....dangerous contender for sure
9  Sweet as a Rose   consistent closer (especially at one mile) in a race with plenty of speed......handicapping 101
10  Show Stealer  another late runner who should benefit from what likely will be a lively pace......and a good history when Stevens rides
Long-shot consideration:  7  Egyptian Empire  consistent at one mile on the grass at GG (4 1 3 0)......dangerous rider/trainer combo.......nice mid pack running style fits Nakatani and his patience on the sod
race 8 Â Â average clarity
4  Bayern  no other speed of his kind in the race to speak of and Baffert trained .....and he is a rateable sort.......should be a ton unless the rail is dull as it was on Thursday
3  Hoppertunity  ultra consistent Baffert runner should be flying late as usual.......good shot to get his 4th Graded Stakes win
6  Catch a Flight  9 for 16 lifetime and 1 for 1 at the distance........Mandella.......Stevens.......plenty to like if you land here
1  Nowalking  best of the rest.....if he absolutely loves the new Dmr surface he just might have a shot
race 9 Â Â average clarity
2  Micks Miracle  giant run in MSW debut....another strong effort in 2nd start but failed to win as the heavy favorite becauase os a bad trip.....see ya Talamo.....hello Tyler Baze.......like that his two previous races were also run at 6 1/2F
1  Unblunted  beat our top pick in latest but wasn't as impressive.......but he has the right to show more today 2nd out following a 5 month hiatus
5  K Thirty Eight  fell off in latest.....needs a rebound with Solis back up who is two for two on this Karen Headley four year old....and both wins were by 3L or more
9  Airfoil  trainer tends to give nothing away (up for a tag today) but if this one is in good health he should fly late dropping one alw level
race 10 Â Â average clarity
1  Perdona  big forward move in last his 2nd lifetime start and the effort is hidden by dueling in big pace and a slightly dull rain.....1st long and 1st turf but is bred well for both..... should to dominate from thr get go and do so with Bejarano up
10  Scandal  consistent grass runner and Mike Smith knows her inside out having been aboard for every lifetime race
11  Place des Vosges  CD invader just keeps getting better.......and better.......and better.......and better........and better........and
7  Autumn Flower  big move forward in latest.......not out of this if that improved run muscled him up some for today's race
9  Artisticdifferece  might have needed her debut.......shot here if she did
8  Sweeter Thancandy  best of the rest.....leading jock in wins and $$$$ to date at Dmr gets the call