Del Mar for Friday 18 November 2016
Average card today but Saturday's appears to be much better.
Best of luck as always!
race 1 Â Â average clarity
5  Nanybelle   best effort and fig was her MSW debut her only race ever on the dirt.......finally and wisely gets back to the main track following 4 consecutive rather dismal route turf races.......takes the plunge to the bottom MC level........never sharper in the a.m......fits today at a level and surface that maybe she should have been on along
1  Santa Nella  sprint - sprint - route maneuver and down multiple MC levels.......one of Eric Kruljac's better stats is dropping multiple levels
2  Yavrig  consistent sort but likes to hang........might not hand today if Pena hustles her to a loose lead in this race void of speed ......as in no one in front of her to "hang" on
6 Â Princess Tiznow
race 2 Â Â average clarity
7  Sidepocket Run  by far at her best at one mile on the dirt......alarming drop for sure but she just worked a solid 4F 5 days ago.....believe it is about 60/40 that her health is good enough to be tough running at today's much lower level
6  Papaslilprincess  potential for a significant awakening back on a surface that she really responds to (4 0 3 1)......race 3 back is exceptionally strong for the F & M 8K level and would likely win this if she can run as well at a route.....rider upgrade
3  Frandontjudge  wake up city in her last two with the blinkers removed.......a little short fig wise as compared to our top two choices.....but.....she might be up for a move forward coming off an easy paced (likely stress-free) 5L win
1 Â Joan of Arch
race 3 Â Â average clarity
2  Southern Drawl  improving and retains Prat and with a better post to cope with than he had in his last........the Grandpa version of trainer Neil Drysdale is very hard to handicap but when examining the work series for this filly I feel rather good he has this girl ready
5  Haute Style  another trainer in Craig Lewis who is hard for yours truly to get a handle on quite often.......too inconsistent or a lack of understanding of his methods on my part ?......wide trip in her latest for this  three-year old filly or could have been fighting for the win instead of running 3rd......better post and a good grass jock in Arroyo who will be out to make amends
4  Shehastheritestuff   seems ready with a solid work series for her first race in 2 1/3 months.....seems likely to get a nice close to the front ground saving trip.......race 3 back at SA fits solidly here .......last two at Dmr do not.......might prefer SA over Del Mar or would have picked higher
7 Â Nighty Night
race 4 Â Â average clarity
6  Nextdoorneighbor  best at 6 1/2 or 7 furlongs and ultra consistent.......last four wins are with Baze up so Knapp wisely retains the rider following the claim ........Knapp is a solid 8 for his last 33 1st following a claim
1  Accelerant   9-year-old spent too much of his career running on the synthetic and the turf....as in 2 for 32 combining the two.......6 for 19 on conventional dirt.......and one win and one 2nd racing at the somewhat specialized 7F distance
8  Success Rate  doesn't rate well at all.....needs contact to the front.....six year old consistently breaks well and retains a good gate jock in Gonzalez looking to make it a perfect 3 for 3 on the gelding
7 Â Limited Response
race 5 Â Â average clarity
4  Marchtothemusic  SCRATCHED OUT OF THE RACE
9  Squared Squared  1st timer from the Peter Miller barn has consistently hit the track at Slr weekly going way back to early Sept and finished off the prolonged work series with two good-looking gate works....mom has tossed 1 winner from 1 starter .........this two-year old was purchased in April for $65K so why not start in a MC 62.5K
1  Tipo Duro  another 1st time starter who appears well worked and ready for his debut......Eurton used to be easy to toss with 1st time starters but lately the very successful trainer is starting to pop with his stock 1st out of the box at a higher rate
2 Â Eldaafirst
race 6 Â Â average clarity
3  Eric the Trojan  very impressive last summer in the abbreviated 5F turf sprints that Del Mar has to offer.....that and the fact Pratt has been extremely successful (6 3 1 1 1) on this Carava three-year old makes it easy for me to place him on top
4  Jimmy Bouncer  another who sure appreciates the 5F grass races at Del Mar.......slightly leery he is up for a tag for the first time even at the lofty price $75,000....but he is a Cal-bred so if he wins between the added money for being a stated-bred and the lofty tag the owner is looking at one big pay-day
8  Stormy Rocit  nice wake up at WO in latest and now shows up in the Miller barn with 2 straight bullet works since the improved effort......seems to have rebounded and should appreciate the cut back in distance.....dangerous new shooter
5 Â Bottle Rocker
Long-shot consideration:  2  Indriya  needed last (and she misplaced running on the dirt and likely at too far a sprint distance) off of the long layoff and she sure has trained well prior to and following her USA debut......four year old filly was a 5F grass specialist in Brazil who had no trouble racing against the guys
race 7 Â Â above average clarity
4  Princess Karen   SCRATCHED OUT OF THE RACE
6  Abel Tasman  graduated in her 2nd lifetime start despite taking the overland route in her 1st at a route.......her endurance should be a big plus when push comes to shove in the late stages of this race.....decent shot to fly past everyone with a better ride by Talamo who is rather cold
3  Fact of Life  nice forward move to graduate in her latest which was run 2 1/3 months ago.......works hint Baffert has her ready fresh and she best be as our top two selections aren't too shabby
1 Â Lake Time
race 8 Â Â average clarity
5  Jet Ski  improving on the dirt and ran an endurance building one mile in his last running 3rd........no water for Jet Ski to race on but the next best surface is available today in the way of 8F of turf.....mom has tossed 3 grass winners and pop has worked out to be a decent sire of turf runners......likely up for lifetime best today
4  Six Point Rack  another who is awfully well=bred for the green carpet.......mom has tossed 4 grass winners.......sprint - sprint - route scenario and for a hot one hot combo in Puype/Elliot....another I believe fires best ever today in her 1st grass and 1st route
1  Dr. Troutman  nice improvement in 2nd lifetime start and that is significant as his trainer often runs them into shape.......and Stevens sticks around for this colt's 1st at a route and 1st on the turf.......like this youngster's pedigree for the grass ......not so much for two turns.....but good post and a sharp jock to squeeze 8F of effort out of him
10 Â Royal Seeker
14 Â Burnt Cognac
13 Â Calli Way