Into the Bit

I haven’t been betting the Del Mar meet this year. I’ve always loved Del Mar, but after the install of the Polytrack last year I was soured on betting it. I’ve been paying a little attention to see how it was going to play, and I still don’t think I have it down yet, but I’ve got to jump in sometime so I’ll start today. After a decent start in the Del Mar free handicapping contest I’ve fallen off a little bit not hitting a winner all week so far. I’m currently in 663rd place out of just under 6,000 participants. Today’s race is the sixth so I’ll see what it looks like when we get there.

Race 1 today is a $20,000 Claimer for three year olds at 1 1/16th miles over the Del Mar Polytrack. Change Your Mask is a short price morning line favorite, and for good reason I think. He’s dropping in from a $50,000 claimer where he ran well on the lead. Before that he won a Starter Allowance race at Golden Gate Fields. Those races were on the grass, but he’s been in the money three of six times on synthetic surfaces and looks like a winner in here to me. If I had to find one that could beat him I’d use Credibility. His first start was a blazing 88 Beyer figure, but he’s yet to run back to that. He’s been over matched in Stakes and Allowance races, and ran poorly in his first off the layoff early last month. He’s 2nd off the layoff today, and if he improves back to that maiden effort he could win this one today. I like Okie Dokie Petey underneath these two.

Race 2 is a $32,000 Maiden Claimer for 3 year old and up fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs over the Polytrack. I like a couple that could be a price in here today. The first is Miss Lydia. She’s been running against better until her last time out when she ran at this level and proved she belonged here. She too is 2nd off the layoff and eligible to improve quite a bit. Savoir Farrah is a nicely bred filly making her first start and I think she may be able to run a little bit. I’ll use her on top as well as Miss Lydia. Morning line favorite Enchanting Moment doesn’t do a lot for me. Doug O’Neill is on 12% first off the claim, but this one is certainly capable of winning this one at a short price.

The 3rd at Del Mar is an $80,000 Maiden Claimer for two year olds at 5 1/2 furlongs over the Cushion Track. This is an nice two year old race, that wouldn’t be a claimer at most tracks. The Bat Signal is in for $70,000 and ran a really nice race against Candy Lion, who I think is one of the Best two year olds I’ve seen this year. He had the lead at the top of the stretch and gave way down the lane. That race and this one have a number of horses who are nominated for the Del Mar Futurity later in the meet. There are a couple of first time starters in here who might be something. Yonkers Joe is a nicely bred colt by Empire Maker out of a Storm Bird mare running for Bob Baffert. I’ll use Star Redeemer also. He’s another first timer nominated for the futurity who may be able to run a little.

Race 4 is the first flight of the $75,000 Cerf Handicap for three year old and up fillies and mares who are non-winners of a $50,000 Sweepstakes since March 1 other than state bred. They will go six furlongs on the Polytrack. I would really like Tizsweetdreams in here, but there’s a lot of speed in this race and I’m afraid she’ll get hooked on the front end. At 6 furlongs I think I’ll go with her though. The wild card in here is Woodland City who looks to like to run on the front end, but hasn’t been on the Polytrack, and hasn’t run in a year. I’ll use Highland Torree 2nd who has already run down Tizsweetdreams once at this distance and is proven on synthetic surfaces. I’ll use Woodland City in here as John Sadler gets them ready pretty good when he takes over the training duties and off the layoff.

Race 5 is a Maiden Special Weights race for Cal Bred two year olds at 6 furlongs over the Polytrack. Teamwork is 12/1 on the morning line. I like to bet these first time starters that are bred by the Wygods, that they keep to race. Clifford Sise wins 15% first time out, and is winning at an incredible pace of 57% at the Del Mar meet. This one’s nominated for the Del Mar Futurity as well, and once again…is 12/1 today. Cookin Expresso is also nominated to the futurity, but didn’t look too good last time out. He ran 9th in a field of 11 so I’ll skip him today.

The sixth race is the Del Mar Handicapping contest race, so I need to get this one right. It’s an $80,000 Allowance/ Optional Claimer for 3 year old fillies which have never won $7,500 other than or are non-winners of two races, or are in for the $80,000 tag at a mile over the Del Mar Turf Course. I’m going to try Barbara’s Love on the turf today. I’d prefer her to be on the Polytrack, but I think she can be effective on the turf. I’ll use Cassablanca with Gomez and Hollendorfer who are winning at 40% on the meet and 38% for the year together. I’ll use Lemon Punch with these two.

The seventh is the second flight of the $75,000 Cerf Handicap. Again it’s for fillies and mares 3 years old and up which are non-winners of a $50,000 Sweepstakes other than state bred since March 1st. They’ll go six furlongs over the Polytrack today. Unspoken Word has bounced around little stake races between Northern and Southern California for last only winning one of them. Jerry Hollendorfer has found a new rider though in Garrett Gomez and their winning percentage is tough to argue with. Tizzy’s Tune runs well off the layoff and has a shot in here I think. She drops back in to a sprint today and I think she’s got an excellent chance in here. I’ll use her on top a little too. Fleetheart also goes back to sprinting and drops out of a Grade I event to where she probably belongs.

The eighth is a $10,000 Claimer for 4 year old and up fillies and mares at a mile over the Polytrack. Galicia looks pretty good, and she should as the morning line favorite. She’s been winning up north, and has run in the money every time she tries a synthetic track. William Morey has two wins at the meet, and has had this horse and lost her at the claim box. He’s gotten her back and must feel she’s in the right spot today. Lupita’s Lucky Angel drops way down and gets blinkers and could get a piece of this race. I’ll use Zee Topper third in here.

Good Luck;

Ron

Tags: California Racing, Del Mar, Horse race betting, Horse Racing, horse racing odds, Horse Racing results, Off track betting

This entry was posted on Friday, August 1st, 2008 at 10:46 am and is filed under Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.