
Del Mar for Saturday 17 August 2019
Enjoy this special day which is the highlight of the summer Del Mar meeting.
Best of luck as always!
race 1Â Â average clarity
4 Paladar  2 of 3 route races since Richard Baltas took over the training of this four year old are awfully good........and his a.m work is fantastic..........seems like a potential Stakes horse in the near future........1st time Prat to boot
1 Major Cabbie  like our top choice he fits solidly at today's higher level off of a powerful better than par for the nw2 alw level at Del Mar........only placed 2nd because of the aforementioned brilliant a.m. work put in by our top pick
5 Fawree  4 for 5 at today's distance and if he doesn't regress off of such a big move forward in his last he would have some shot in this spot......and that's saying something as formidable as our top two appear to be
race 2Â Â below average clarity
4 Samurai Charm  last two drills put in for this MC 150,000 1st timer in preparation for today are solid and at Del Mar......and it appears like she owns some early speed......so Miller gets a speed jock in Maldonado to ride......the only time Miller has ridden the jock over the last two months they won.....and last but not least mom has tossed 6 winners from 6 starters including a Stakes winner
6 Paid Informant  consistently decent works for this Baltas 1ster at Slr.........and the fact he gets Prat to ride supports the idea this filly is meant and ready to roll despite the trainer's poor stats with MC 1st timers
3 Seahawk Lisa  Hollendorfer filly also looks dangerous in her maiden debut as she started working more impressively when she hit the Del Mar surface after arriving from Slr
8Â Orquidias Biz
2Â Well Done Sally
race 3Â Â average clarity
2 Stormy Liberal  2 million+ money earner is stellar at the 5 or 5 1/2 furlong turf distance (5 4 1 0) .......he has faced and run extremely well versus some of the best turf sprinters in the world.........good history when Van Dyke rides (6 4 2 0).....hard not to like
5 Eddie Haskell  a win machine in abbreviated turf sprints and he beat our top choice by a head the last time they faced each other.......decent shot to add to his (7 6 1 0) record on the Del Mar turf
1 Calexman  needs plenty to go right and not the best of days or trips for our top two choices to upset here.........stranger things have happen
race 4Â Â average clarity
2 Oliver big forward move which might have been produced in part by the turf route to dirt sprint maneuver........but the stout 4F work since hints this colt has held form........leading trainer at the meet in O'Neill has a decent shot at adding to his win total here
7 Satanta  bet hard in his MSW debut and did not disappoint with a strong win running wide up on the pace.......still if our top choice repeats his last this Mullins four year old will need to build on his debut to be in the win picture........pun intended
5 Clem Labine  consistent sort seems best at today's 6 1/2 furlongs distance but figure wise he will have to step up his game today if our top two produce what they are capable of
8Â Executive Cat
1Â Swiss Minister
race 5Â Â average clarity
4 Fivestar Lynch  very solid layoff race in Ireland last April beating 16 of 17 foes......shows up in the Baltas barn who gets one solid out of town jockey in Florent Geroux to ride........1st on Lasix today.......catches a somewhat soft group of locals.......seem formidable if he is fully fit off of the layoff
7 Succeedandsurpass  another Baltas entry in the race had a brutal trip in his 2nd lifetime start and 1st in the good old U S of A........works since hint he is doing great......we shall find out about 4 p.m. pacific time
12 Mo Forza  not much speed in this race and this colt has some and better use it sitting on the 12 post.......right guy for the job in Prat.......might be rated to low if the top turf jock can get to at least the two path on turn one
1Â Silenced
2Â Farquhar
race 6Â Â average clarity
4 Royal Thunder  trainer has done very well with limited starters in 2019.........and Tim Yakteen sure seems to have this colt all wound up and ready to roll with some stout a.m. work at Del Mar
7 Bronn  decent debut but really didn't live up to his favoritism status........but he might today as the blinkers come off and his a.m. work is vastly better.........and Baffert is 33% win and 74% in the money taking the blinkers off a given horse.......very dangerous sort
5 Hydrogen  double barrel action from Baffert as he also trains our 2nd selection.......two year old (like so many Baffert babies) appears meant and ready for his debut into the wonderful world that is Thoroughbred racing
1Â Tizamagician
3Â Honor A. P.
race 7Â Â average clarity
6 The Great Day  five year old has.yet to show his ability displayed in Argentina but his a.m. work is very impressive (and at a terrific place to train) and the trainer stats point to a good race today - high % trainer in Delacour with shippers & 3rd out following long layoffs both of which apply here
5 United  sure took kindly to his 1st ever on the Dmr grass with his lifetime best......and the extra quarter mile of turf to cover should fit him well as it appears as if he will run all day long......his pedigree sure supports the notion
4 Marckie's Water  very consistent late runner and he is 1 for 1 at the 11F distance and the win was at Del Mar........mostly placed as 3rd pick as he was made high weight and with a rider up who has been awfully chilly at the meeting
1Â Oscar Dominquez
9Â Acclimate
race 8Â Â average clarity
3 Classic Fit  Stidham filly has handled 5 different surfaces in five lifetime starts quite well......so.......it seems highly unlikely that Del Mar will present a problem for her......just ran 2nd in a Grade 2 at Bel at 17 to 1 in a six horse field......it seems noteworthy that it was her 1st to date using Lasix.......Geroux should be able to work out a nice ground saving mid pack trip at least thru turn one
1 Into Chocolate  significantly improved in her latest which was her 1st on the Dmr main track.......blinkers go on and Smith stays put hinting the equipment will help......if it does she sure has a decnt shot in this spot
5 Colonial Creed  consistent sort when competing in route races turf or dirt.......just ran her lifetime best in her last which was run off of short rest on 26 May........can she run as well off of a 2 1/2 month break......we shall find out about 5:30 pacific
6Â Sneaking Out
8Â Kim K
race 9Â Â average clarity
1 Cambier Parc  significantly improved in her last two grass races both run on very firm turf.......so the Del Mar sod should be to his liking as it is much more likely that the ground will shake than it is to get rain at Del Mar in August........and then of course there is the best turf trainer in the USA in Mr. Chad Brown calling the shots
10 Mucho Unusual  versatile sort is proven racing on the front end of things or mid pack or far out of it......so........Mike Smith has options.......filly just fired her lifetime best winning a Grade 2 at Del Mar 4 weeks ago.......improved a.m. work since (and the works were turf works)........believe she moves forward again if she handles the added distance OK
4 Hard Legacy  nice Grade 3 win at CD in her latest which was at today's 9F distance.......seems to appreciate 2 months between starts (which she had for her last start) and gets it today......good grass rider in Leparoux comes in to ride
5Â Raymundos Secret
7Â Dogtag
race 10Â Â below average clarity
2 Quip  Geroux sure gets along with this Brisset four year old with 3 wins & 2 2nd's in six mounts.......seemingly never sharper than he is right now........good post.........10 furlongs is a question mark
3 Pavel  has faced better (often the very best) and with some tough trips at times........seems due for some racing luck and/or a better ride........rated too low if he gets both today
9 Mongolian Groom  by my book this price shot was the best horse in the Grade 2 at Dmr on 20 July when you take into account his wide trip.......that and his 2 races at 10F were in Grade 1 races where he did not embarrass himself whatsoever vs. some tough cookies
5Â Seeking the Soul
1Â War Story
race 11Â Â average clarity
13 Desert Oasis race 2 back was a fast MSW heat in a two turn grass race in late June.......earned a number that is slightly better than par for today's higher level.......Drysdale made changes after the race: blinkers on - 2nd time on Lasix - 2nd out after a long layoff - all decent stats for Drysdale and man did he come thru (as our top choice) running an adjusted Santucci fig that is much better than par for the nw alw level......tough post but plenty of "horse" to overcome it
8 Salsa Bella  2nd out since Lerner took over the training duties of this east coast invader who closed hard but came up a little short running 3rd........Andrew Lerner is (5 4 1 0) "2nd time trainer"........so it is hard not to expect a move forward today........like the rider switch too
1 True To Herself  ran quite a few better races in Ireland than she just showed in her last her 1st in the USA........blinkers on and a speed drill put in.......should be in the mix from the get go with plenty of potential if she is up to some of her races overseas
7Â Betty F
2Â Woodfin
11Â An Eddie Surprise