Saturday’s Del Mar Card
My first good attempt to handicap Del Mar didn’t go so well. Still I think the track played fairly, but I’ve got some tweaking to do to my handicap. I’ll try it again today though, even though I’m considering going back to Arapahoe Park this afternoon and taking a shot at that. I can’t see it being much tougher than Del Mar.
Race one at Del Mar is a $32,000 Claimer for fillies and mares 4 years old and up at a mile over the Polytrack. Beyla looks tough in here today. She just won a $40,000 claimer on the turf, and has two wins and a place in 4 outs on synthetic tracks. She won’t be much of a price and has a tendency to bounce a little bit so I can’t bet much on this race. Bartok’s Bling won at this level last out, and I’ll use Tanzanite if I lose my mind and bet more than a couple of dollars on this race.
The second race is a $25,000 Maiden Claimer for 3 year olds and up at 6 furlongs over the Polytrack. I liked one yesterday that needed to return to his form in the first time out to win (Credibility $10.20). That’s the case today for Anatolian Gold. If he returns to his form as a first time starter he wins this race. Del Mar may be the place for horses to do that this year, so we’ll give Anatolian Gold a try today. Jerry Hollendorfer goes back to Rafael Bejarano today on Aflleet’s Design. He’ll be favored, and these two have won 38% when they’ve combined at Del Mar so far this meet. Highly Unusual drops in from $40,000 claiming and has a shot in here today.
Race 3 is the 3rd running of the California Dreamin’ Handicap with a $125,000 purse for 3 year old and up Cal Breds at a mile and one sixteenth over the Del Mar turf course. It looks like a tough day to try to beat the favorites Mr. Wolverine looks hard to beat today. He finished 4th a length in a grade I last out in June. He comes off the layoff pretty good and I’ll take him in here. Epic Power looks a clear cut 2nd, and I’ll use Bold Chieftan third.
The 4th is an Allowance / Optional Claimer for $25,000 for Cal Bred fillies and mares, 3 years old and up which have never won $7,500 other than, or are non-winners of two, or are in for the $25,000 Claiming Price. They’ll go a mile and one sixteenth on the Polytrack. Smooth Performer is another favorite that looks tough off of one race. Two races back she runs second a head in the Hollywood Oaks with a 94 Beyer. She tried the grass after that and didn’t look too good. I can’t bet these favorites all day, so I’ll try to beat her off that one good race, but I don’t know how good of an idea it is. I’m going to try Real Lift. She gets in with 10 wins by virtue of the $25,000 claiming tag. She doesn’t have the big figures, but she just wins, including 5 of 7 on synthetic surfaces. I’ll try Lighten Up Rule for the show.
Race 5 is a Maiden Special Weights at a mile and one sixteenth. There’s a bunch of pace in this race so I’m looking for someone to come off the pace. I think I’ll try Educated Risk. At 15/1 he looks like he could catch these if they all go to the lead. If they set a smart pace and don’t go too fast on the front end, Ginobili has a shot to hang on. I’ll use Rumba Along in 3rd.
The 6th is an Allowance / Optional Claimer for $62,500 for 3 year olds and up which have never won $7,500 twice other than, have never won two races, or are in for the $62,500 claiming tag. They’ll go 6 1/2 furlongs over the Polytrack. Rouge Scholar ran a 109 Beyer last out at Churchill Downs to win by 6 lengths in a $50,000 Claimer. Cody Autry claimed him and now brings him out to Del Mar. Cody Autry had a terrible time last year at Del Mar, and I’m kind of surprised to see him back. He cost me a small fortune last year and I have to pass on him today. His races over other Polytracks at Arlington Park and Keeneland were less than impressive. I’ll go for Men Only in here today. Bilo’s been running against better, getting beat by Street Boss, who came back to win a Grade I last week. I’ll use Six Pack Abs for the show.
The 7th is a Maiden Special Weights race for two year olds at 5 1/2 furlongs over the Polytrack. Gold Aly is a horse I loved in his first start. He was a good price and got beat by a real good one in Candy Lion. I bet The Bat Signal yesterday based on coming in third by 3 in that race, and I can bet Gold Aly based on coming in 5th by 6 today. He’s 15/1 on the morning line and will determine if I win or lose today most likely. He had a quick 3 furlong work last out, and gets lasix for the first time today. I can use Snapshot 2nd based on my strategy of betting the horses the Wygods keep to race, rather than sell when they breed them. I’ll use Gato Go Win in the show spot.
The eighth is a $12,500 claimer for 3 year olds and up, non-winners of two at six furlongs over the Polytrack. Betttin and Sweatin had a rough out as the beaten favorite last time losing by over 20 lengths. I can bet a horse that has a terrible out like that if they bring him back quickly. Obviously something went wrong, but it’s usually not with the horse’s health if they come back soon enough. The Unclean Spirit gets the blinkers off and shortens up a little today at the same level he ran well the last two outs. For The House threw in a clunker in the last out too, but had a little more rest than Bettin and Sweatin, I’ll look for Jack Van Berg to have a good day though.
Hard to bet against the unbeaten Zenyatta, but depending on how the 7th race goes, I’ll bet Tough Tiz’s Sis at a little price and skip the rest of the day, as I’ll either be broke or rich after the 7th.
Good Luck;
Ron
Tags: Del Mar, Horse race betting, Horse Racing, horse racing odds, Horse Racing results, Tough Tiz's Sis, Zenyatta