HORSE RACING TODAY AT DEL MAR By Richard Eng

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HORSE RACING

TODAY AT DEL MAR

By Richard Eng

Post Time 3 p.m.

Race 1 - 1 1/16th miles (turf, rail at 7 feet), Purse $50,000, Claiming $50,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Heathersdaddysbaby - She is a win machine on turf, 10-of-27 tallies; claimed by Peter Miller, spotted to win.

Royal Prana - Fresh off a 5-month hiatus; bugboy Christian Reyes looks like a polished journeyman, high ceiling.

Long Shot - Mi Corredora

Race 2 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $26,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

Limited Will - Ran a winning race for this class when second to Scofield Barracks; repeat race wins this.

Journeyman - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; need not be much to compete.

Long Shot - Oceanor

Race 3 - 6 furlongs, Purse $17,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds and up

Gotcha Again - A few close, but no cigar, finishes of late; consistent grinder is due to win one of these.

I'm Bulletproof - Third start off a 11-month hiatus; he broke his maiden last summer at Del Mar.

Long Shot - Shakin N Dancin

Race 4 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $24,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, Cal-breds, Fillies, 2-year-olds

Ms. Salt Mine - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; speed to take the lead.

Royally Large - FTS from the Jeff Mullins barn; you could do worse than back this barn in a baby race.

Long Shot - Right to Work

Race 5 - 1 mile, Purse $35,000, Claiming $25,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

Voodoo's Vision - Can turn the tables tonight on Lunch Money; tactical speed to sit a perfect trip.

Lunch Money - Tepid chalk beat many of these last time out; dead late closer will need to weave thru traffic.

Long Shot - There Goes Gee Gee

Race 6 - 6 furlongs, Purse $51,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Mona de Momma - Lost two fast run races to good foes; she has the experience edge, and is very quick.

Charlie's Princess - Leap of faith that the hot Tim Yakteen barn will keep firing; got an education in debut.

Long Shot - Zetta's Corridor

Race 7 - 1 mile, Purse $60,000, Optional claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Dave's Revenge - She won her MSW last summer, and has done nothing since; has been grossly overmatched.

Third Dawn - Logical chalk is strictly the one to beat; she gets big class relief from graded stakes for this.

Long Shot - Unusual Spirit

Race 8 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 7 feet), $85,000 Wickerr, 3-year-olds and up

Aitcho - I know they have always liked this colt; draw a line thru the Californian and he fits with these.

Ferneley - Sure to be overlooked because he appears a cut below; still he runs hard every time out.

Long Shot - Sky Cape

Race 9 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $32,000, 4-year-olds and up

Coronel Moldes - Would not be shocked with a pick 6 carryover; sliding down the claiming ladder to this.

A Cat Named Snipe - Speedball gets the services of Garrett Gomez; class dropper plays catch me if you can.

Long Shot - Scottish Diamond

Best Bet - Mona de Momma (race 6)

Del Mar Thursday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/6/$44.80; Long Shots, 8/1/$10.00; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.20

Del Mar Totals - 117/29/$235.80; Long Shots, 64/8/$94.40; Best Bets, 6/2/$6.40

SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - #8 The Best Day Ever (6/1) in race 8 at Saratoga. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, Inter Galactic ran out at Belmont Park. Stats - 110/88/$638.30

 

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RICHARD ENG: Talented 3-year-olds ready to run

RICHARD ENG: Talented 3-year-olds ready to run

RICHARD ENG: Talented 3-year-olds ready to run

If there was any doubt about the glamour division in horse racing, this weekend will settle it. The best of the 3-year-olds, including all three winners of the Triple Crown events, will be showcased on the East Coast.

Preakness winning filly Rachel Alexandra is the star attraction of the weekend as the 4-5 morning-line favorite in Sunday's $1.25 million Haskell at Monmouth Park. Her main foes will be Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird and improving colt Munnings.

On Saturday, Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird is the 3-5 morning-line favorite in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby, and an open field of seven will compete in the $500,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga. The top finishers from the three stakes will make up the bulk of the Travers field Aug. 29.

I know it's bad form to put the cart in front of the horse, but if things work out this weekend, the Travers could be a remarkable race.

With three rich stakes tugging at the 3-year-olds, each field is small: seven in the Jim Dandy, six in the West Virginia Derby and six probable starters in the Haskell. However, there is potential for all the favorites to get beat at extremely short odds.

Munnings is a colt coming into his own for the Haskell. He is quick and exiting two excellent sprint stakes wins. He'll be in front. Rachel Alexandra would be advised to sit off that one and try to gobble him up in the stretch.

Mine That Bird will be at a tactical disadvantage at Mountaineer, a speed favoring track. Big Drama figures to get all the best of the early pace and could prove hard to catch. And finally, the Charitable Man that I expect to see in the Jim Dandy is the one that rolled to victory in the Peter Pan.

? CONTEST NOTES -- I came across two more contests for locals.

The Rampart and Cannery race books are offering a twin quinella five days a week with a $1,000 jackpot. And Jerry's Nugget is giving away $500 in its Del Mar Saturday contest.

Keep in mind there will be two big-money handicapping tournaments in August: the $125,000 Guaranteed Race Handicapping Challenge at Wynn Las Vegas on Aug. 7 and 8 and Pick the Ponies from Aug. 27 to 29 at the Las Vegas Hilton.

? GOING TO THE DOGS -- After years of finagling, pari-mutuel wagering will be offered on dog racing in Nevada. Palm Beach will begin today, with Derby Lane soon to follow.

 

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Jeff Siegel's Analysis for Friday, July 31

Jeff Siegel's Analysis for Friday, July 31

Jeff Siegel's Analysis for Friday, July 31
9:19 p.m. July 30, 2009

DEL MAR ?

FIRST RACE ? HEATHERSDADDYSBABY, first off the claim for Peter Miller, loves to win races and looks well placed for a repeat score after defeating a slightly softer field in sharp style at Hollywood Park. MI CORREDORA is a useful Bay Area invader with top connections and seems like a logical exacta partner with our top pick. ELLE PICKLE is winless this year but may out finish the others. Long shot: Royal Prana.


SECOND RACE ? UNION SOLDIER drops to his lowest level ever, adds blinkers, and catches a below par field for the level. He represents value at 6-1 on the morning line and could spring a mild surprise. LIMITED WILL stretches out after a solid runner-up effort in an abbreviated sprint at Hollywood Park. The Mullins-trained colt seems like the one to catch. OCEANOR closed a gap to be fourth in his debut and has every right to improve with distance and experience. Long shot: Saint Chocolate.


THIRD RACE ? REDORWHITE launches a comeback for a barn that excels with layoff runners and in a soft field rates the call based on his best form from last year. STORMY GAME, in the money in his last pair, figures in the battle once again. GOTCHA AGAIN was nosed out in a similar spot up north two races back and figures tough with a repeat of that effort today. Long shot: Don't Forget Muq.


FOURTH RACE ? SHEZA FOXY JACKPOT is a first timer from the Mitchell barn with speed breeding and a solid work pattern. In an open fray, let's go with a new face. HAYLEY'S HALO has shown she can run some, has a bullet work since ran, and has the benefit of two races under her belt. EE TO KINZIE, third in both of her starts to date, should be in the battle once again. Long shot: Royally Large.

FIFTH RACE ? VOODOO'S VISION failed at even money when worn down late vs. similar last month but gets a chance to make amends in a field without too much early speed. LUNCH MONEY just defeated 'Vision, retains Gomez, draws the rail, and is the one to beat again. PLAY NINE fits on figures off her game win two races back and is worth using in the exotics. Long shot: Steam Iron.


SIXTH RACE ? ELLE A GENT is plenty quick and looks capable of taking this field gate to wire from her inside draw. She was three lengths clear of the third horse when beaten on the money last time out. MONA DE MOMMA missed as the choice at Hollywood Park recently but earned a big figure in the process and seems strictly the one to beat. BROKEN SILENCE showed some talent last winter and returns to action for Biancone with a recent bullet gate work. Long shot: Gumption.

SEVENTH RACE ? THIRD DAWN was overmatched in the American Oaks but isn't today. The Sadler-trained filly draws the good rail, returns to the first level allowance ranks and should get back to her winning ways. UNUSUAL SPIRIT figures to be a late threat and should out run her 8-1 morning line odds. GRACE ANATOMY, in the money in her last four, should be in the fray once again. Long shot: Forever My Love.


EIGHTH RACE ? COLONEL JOHN tries grass for the first time, has trained like he's ready to roll in his first start since December and can win on past class. BECRUX loves Del Mar and has already won this race twice in the past. He'll be charging late. FERNELEY has a look off his big figure win up north two races back. Long shot: Tizzy West.


NINTH RACE ? A CAT NAMED SNIPE drops into a claimer and beats this field with anything close to his best race. GANDOLF is another class-dropper likely to improve in this league. He's a route to sprint play and also goes from turf to the main track. STORM BRAVE tries the poly track after a series of races on turf and could be a late threat at a price under the bug boy Reyes. Long shot: Cayambe.


Best bet: Union Soldier (2nd)


SCHEDULE

UPCOMING STAKES RACES


Today: Wickerr Stakes; 1 mile (turf) $85,000 added

Tomorrow: San Clemente Handicap; 1 mile (turf) $150,000 Guaranteed

Sunday: San Diego Handicap; 1 1/16 miles $250,000 Guaranteed

Wednesday: Cougar II Handicap; 1? miles $150,000 Guaranteed

Aug. 7: Sorrento Stakes; 6? furlongs $150,000 Guaranteed

Aug. 8: Bing Crosby Stakes; 6 furlongs $300,000 Guaranteed

Aug. 9: Best Pal Stakes; 6? furlongs $150,000 Guaranteed

Aug. 12: C.E.R.F Stakes; 6 furlongs $85,000 added

Aug. 14: Real Good Deal Stakes; 7 furlongs $100,000 guaranteed

Aug. 15: La Jolla Handicap (Gr. II); 1 1/16 mi (Trf) $150,000 guaranteed

Aug. 16: J.C. Mabee Stakes (Gr. I); 1 1/8 miles (Turf) $350,000 guaranteed

Aug. 19: Green Flash Handicap; 5 furlongs (turf) $85,000 added

Aug. 21: Sandy Blue Handicap; 1 mile (turf) $85,000 added

Aug. 22: Del Mar Oaks; 1 1/8 miles $350,000 guaranteed

Aug. 23: Solana Beach 'Cap; 1 mile (turf) $100,000 guaranteed

Aug. 26: Harry F. Brubaker Stakes; 1 1/16 mi. (Turf) $85,000 added

Aug. 28: CTT & TOC Handicap; 1 3/8 miles (turf) $85,000 added

Aug. 29: Del Mar Mile (Gr. II); 1 mile (turf) $300,000

Aug. 30: Del Mar Handicap (Gr. II); 1 3/8 miles (Turf) $250,000 guaranteed

Sep. 2: Generous Portion Stakes; 6 furlongs $100,000 guaranteed