HORSE RACING TODAY AT DEL MAR By Richard Eng

[Lumi]

HORSE RACING

TODAY AT DEL MAR

By Richard Eng

Post Time 2 p.m.

Race 1 - 1 mile (turf), Purse $44,000, Claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Bitterbutsweet - Third start off a year hiatus; exits a minor stakes for this price tag, value at 5/1 odds.

Lullabytime - Mike Mitchell has an uncoupled entry, so eyeball both of them; first off the claim for Mitchell.

Long Shot - Lupit'sluckyangel

Race 2 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $27,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Hot Summer Breeze - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; his debut race was best.

Wanell - Trailed throughout in grass try; she was a lot more effective over synthetics in her debut.

Long Shot - Silver Heat

Race 3 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $22,000, Maiden claiming $32,000, 3-year-olds and up

Broadway Promise - Ran a winning race for this level last time out; makes his SoCal debut facing easier.

Skipper's Honor - FTS is by Unusual Heat, need I say more; he's also trained by Barry Abrams.

Long Shot - Enamorado

Race 4 - 5 furlongs (turf), Purse $62,000, Optional claiming $62,500, 3-year-olds and up

Mr. Rod - Exits an upset stakes win in the Generous; been away 9-months, but definitely has the talent.

Details R Sketchy - Was highly regarded early on, then the wheels came off; could be a seriously good sprinter.

Long Shot - Dancing in Silks

Race 5 - 6 furlongs, Purse $27,000, Claiming $20,000, 4-year-olds and up

Public Image - Speedball will play catch me if you can; has tons of back class to handle this level.

All Money No Love - Claimed by Bob Hess off a sharp victory; all he needs to do is maintain his fitness.

Long Shot - Midwesterner

Race 6 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $24,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds

Cat Calloway - Moves inside from post 10 last time out; dead late closer should be able to save ground.

Sammy's a Runnin' - The race he needs to repeat is his debut try two back; sat still and rallied nicely.

Long Shot - Alpine Warrior

Race 7 - 1 1/16th miles (turf), Purse $32,000, Starter allowance $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Coracao Beijo - Unseen since a poor start and fast finish in last; decent break makes his work easier.

Super Sophie - Won her U.S. debut over this Del Mar green; first time facing winners, see what she's made of.

Long Shot - Moscow Rising

Race 8 - 7 furlongs, $100,000 Real Good Deal, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds

M One Rifle - This is the kind of horse Mike Smith rides best; break on top and nurse him on the lead.

Royal Punisher - He ran a hole in the wind in debut; by Fusaichi Pegasus, he could be any kind.

Long Shot - Brushburn

Race 9 - 7 furlongs, Purse $22,000, Maiden claiming $32,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Sure Tiz - Claimed by Melody Conlon and spotted nicely to win; she adds blinkers on for more focus.

Feed a Fever - Tepid chalk in a wide open finale; if you're like in the pick 6 carryover, I hope you're spread.

Long Shot - Fortyfivewithruby

Best Bet - Hot Summer Breeze (race 2)

Del Mar Thursday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 14/4/$27.80; Long Shots, 8/1/$14.60; Best Bet, 0/0/$0

Del Mar Totals - 289/74/$523.80; Long Shots, 151/15/$177.80; Best Bets, 15/6/$26.20

SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - #1 Ruff and Ready (5/1) in race 7 at Saratoga. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, Fiftycentsondollar won at Monmouth Park paying $3.20 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.40 to show. Stats - 120/96/$714.30

 

[Lumi]

At the Gate - Friday

At the Gate - Friday

At the Gate - Friday

Mother Russia went gate to wire as our top pick in Thursday?s feature, the Statue of Liberty Stakes, returning $6.00 for the win.



We had the recommended exacta ($46.80) and trifecta ($100.50) as well, but my top picks came up short for the day, three on top returning $18.00 for each $20.00 wagered.



A field of ten goes in Friday?s feature, the $150,000 Hall of Fame Stakes (G2). The three year olds will go nine furlongs on the turf course.



There are several runners with very appealing turf pedigrees, and I am going with the up and coming Courageous Cat, a son of Storm Cat out of the Grade 1 winner Tranquility Lake, who won over $1.6 million in her career and has been a productive mare, with three stakes winners on her resume.



Straight Story is likely to go off as the favorite. The Alan Goldberg trainee came up just a head short in each of his last two starts to Battle of Hastings at Colonial Downs in graded stakes company.



The colt is 7/2 on the morning line, but figures to go off much shorter than that. The colt also is not lacking in the pedigree department, the $400,000 Keeneland purchase is out of the stakes winner Eventail.



Here is today's opener from Saratoga to get our day off to a good start:



SAR Race 1 $16,000N1Y (1:00 ET)

#10 U.S. Cavalry 8/1

#2 Classic Moon 5/2

#4 Band of Thunder 3/1

#5 Brother Bud 6/1



Analysis: #10 U.S. Calvary drops into a softer spot here after having little chance of having an impact last out when stumbling out of the gate. The outing was his first off a 15 month layoff for the Maker barn that is 26% winners with horses making their second start off a +180 day layoff. The gelding won 5 of his first 10 career starts including a stakes win over poly at Turfway. The gelding goes form an open $25K claimer into a non winners of one in six months with a $16K tag. Willing to give this guy another look if we catch most of the 8/1 ML.



#2 Classic Moon invades from Calder where last out the gelding was a good second against Alw-1 optional claimers. The gelding beat Alw-2 optional claimers in January at Tampa Bay Downs and looks primed for a good effort here in his third start of his current form cycle. The gelding lands with the Brown barn that is 21% winners with newcomers to the barn. The gelding owns a solid pace profile throughout and Ramon takes the call.



Wagering

WIN: #10 to win at 9/2 or better.

EX: 2,10 / 2,4,5,10

TRI: 2,10 / 2,4,5,10 / 2,4,5,6,10



Today's Featured Race of the Day from Saratoga:



SAR Race 8 Hall of Fame S. G2 (4:56 ET)

#8 Courageous Cat 9/2

#1 Straight Story 7/2

#3 Lime Rickey 6/1

#10 El Crespo 12/1



Analysis: #8 Courageous Cat handled stakes company nice with a win in the A Gift at Belmont Park after breaking his maiden in his fourth career start. He now steps into deeper waters here facing graded stakes company but may be up to the task. He certainly has the pedigree to be a nice one. He is by Storm Cat out of the Grade 1 winner Tranquility Lake ($1.66 million) who has dropped a couple of other stakes winners, After Market ($904K) and Jalil ($332K). The colt should have no problem handling the extra ground here.



#1 Straight Story was beaten just a head in his last two starts behind Battle of Hastings in the Colonial Turf Cup (G2) and Virginia Derby (G2). The third place finisher Take the Points came out of the Virginia Derby to win the Secretariat Stakes (G1) at Arlington Park on August 8. The New York bred also has a nice pedigree, by Giant's Causeway out of the stakes winner Eventail ($301K), who could run on turf or dirt.



Wagering

WIN: #8 to win at 3/1 or better.

EX: 1,8 / 1,3,8,10

TRI: 1,8 / 1,3,8,10 / 1,2,3,8,9,10



Live Longshots:

These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.



Saratoga

R1: #10 U.S. Cavalry 8/1

R3: #5 Tweeter 10/1

R4: #8 Itch 8/1

R5: #10 Sneaky Girl 10/1

R5: #3 Successful Sarah 8/1

R6: #3 Final Ending 12/1

R8: #10 El Crespo 12/1

R9: #2 Holiday Triip 8/1

 

[Lumi]

Saratoga Special - Friday

Saratoga Special - Friday

Saratoga Special - Friday

The $150,000 G2 Hall of Fame for three year olds going 1 1/8 miles on the grass highlights today?s card at the Old Spa. It also honors this years Hall of Fame inductees which includes the likes of jockey Eddie Maple and three time Kentucky Derby winning trainer Bob Baffert. Fittingly, a fellow Hall of Famer will saddle a pair of runners including the probably post time favorite.

Back in 1997, Bill Mott became the youngest trainer to enter the Hall of Fame, an honor that previously belonged to one of the all-time greats of the turf, Allen Jerkens. This year, Mott will send out Courageous Cat who?s looking for his third straight victory.


After breaking his maiden two starts back over a yielding course, Courageous Cat stole away to an easy lead in the A Gift at Belmont last out before sprinting home and holding on for a game ? length score over Al Khali. Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux has the mount from post 8. Speaking of Al Khali, he?s back for more in here and will be making his first start for Mott having been previously trained by Todd Pletcher. Norberto Arroyo, Jr. rides from post 5.

Straight Story won his first two tries on turf against New York breds before just missing by a head in the G2 Colonial Turf Cup and G2 Virginia Derby in his last pair at Colonial Downs for trainer Alan Goldberg. John Velazquez rides from post 1.

No Inflation has hit the board in all six of his turf tries but sports just one win on the lawn. In his last three starts, a third in the G2 Jefferson Cup at Churchill is sandwiched between a pair of second place finishes in the Arlington Classic and G2 American Derby at Arlington Park. Robby Albarado rides for trainer. Tom Proctor from post 2.

After finishing third in Colonial Turf Cup and fourth in the Virginia Derby, Lime Rickey will be reunited with the jockey that was aboard for his two career victories in Javier Castellano. He?ll break from post 3 for trainer Frank Alexander.

Out at Night ships in from Delaware for trainer Randy Martin sporting three consecutive wins on the lawn against far lesser competition. He?s won four of five turf starts in all and will get the riding services of Jose Lezcano from post 4.

Conservative will be returning to the turf having tried his hand in a couple of synthetic track stakes and the off-the-turf Hill Prince two back at Belmont. Conservative finished second in his turf debut before breaking his maiden for Shug McGaughey, the other Hall of Fame conditioner with a horse in here. Alan Garcia rides from post 6.

Trianer Roger Attfield will use this spot as the grass debut for his charge, Midnight Mischief. Midnight Mischief won his last two starts over the Woodbine Polytrack surface around two turns. Hall of Famer Edgar Prado rides from post 7.

Ramon Dominguez will ride Sal the Barber from post 9 for trainer Christophe Clement. Third in the Lamplighter two back at Monmouth, Sal the Barber went gate-to-wire in an overnight stakes at Belmont last out in preparation for this.

Finally, El Crespo hasn?t won since winning the G3 Palm Beach at Gulfstream back in mid-March for trainer Rusty Arnold. Julien Leparoux rides from post 10.

THE PLAY Look for a repeat of the A Gift exacta. Bet $30 to win on Courageous Cat and make a $10 exacta box using Courageous Cat and Al Khali. Total wagers cost $50. Good luck!!!!!

 

[Hard Times]

illumanati

illumanati

Good stuff !!!! i'm a reading and you'er a posting... just so you know that someone is paying attention !!

 

[Lumi]

Good to hear HT,

Rip the window off the wall !

I have no clue on how to bet the ponies, but would like to rack up a few sheckles ! Give me some help :SIB

 

[Hard Times]

illumanati

illumanati

keep your eyes open ... i follow some people that are lots better than me, if they get something good i'll send it along.... the biggest thing about horse betting is that there is never a guarantee... don't get discouraged... if you like i'll spell out the bet so you don't mess it up... talk to you later , good luck !

 

[Lumi]

Spell it out in big letter and in CRAYON :142smilie