Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 4-Just Work It Out (Race 8)
Race #1: Selections: 3-2-6
3-Smokin Hot Stuff makes career try number eight this afternoon, but exits a sharp runner-up try on July 25, where she fired a career and field’s best last-out (69) main track Beyer. The daughter of Constitution should improve second off the mini-freshening and the second try over the local surface. 2-Sensational Dream has never tried dirt but is by Street Sense out of a Smart Strike dam, so the switch to the main track should bode well for this 4-year-old today, shortening back up in distance. This filly had a sharp second-best of 101 four-furlong gate drill over the track in :47.2 prior to that last turf try. 6-Sugar Lovin could do no better than third when odds-on in start number two on the class drop at Los Al, but has trained well in the interim over at San Luis Rey.
Race #2: Selections: 8-7-6
8-Elite Heat (GB) kicked clear late from off-the-pace in a sharp score on Aug. 13 on the cutback off the Miller claim. A similar try can certainly produce a repeat. The 7-year-old mare 7-Tam’s Little Angel is winless since October 2025, but has run back-to-back seconds with competitive turf Beyers (73,75) and is a logical fit again. 6-Invincible Molly (GB) drops a notch off an even third on Aug. 7 behind Tam’s Little Angel.
Race #3: Selections: 2-8-7
Leading trainer Doug O’Neill sends out a pair of juvenile fillies here. 2-I Know Nothing has hit the board in two of three career tries and closed well for third in her first start over the track on Aug. 7. The gray daughter of Upstart gets an additional half furlong to work with this afternoon. Her stablemate 8-Just Liberty (by Justify) ships in from Horseshoe Indy off a non-threatening eighth-place turf sprint dash effort on debut. She was training at Keeneland prior to heading west, and is likely to move up on the surface switch and that race under her belt, for a barn that has above-average stats with second-time starters. 7-Pro Payne has improved Beyer-wise with each subsequent start for conditioner Val Brinkerhoff and rallied to finish a neck shy of the win at 25-1 in her most recent try when getting the best of the top choice.
Race #4: Selections: 7-1-4
A tricky race to kick off the $3 All-Turf Pick Three, and this may be the spot to spread. Claimed from his last three starts, 7-Redial moves back to turf for new conditioner Ian Kruljac. This gelding’s three turf starts to begin his career were not good, but we’re willing to give him another chance here with Hernandez enticed to ride off the recent acquisition. He’s 2-for-2 riding for these connections the past 4 years. Class-dropping 1-Bee Eye Gee goes dirt to turf, second off the mini-freshening, and should move forward this afternoon, stretching back out to a mile and switching to Rosario. An even fourth in last 4-Sand Bagger now goes first off the Peter Miller claim, exiting a field’s best last-out turf Beyer (72).
Race #5: Selections: 8-6-1
A speed and fade on Aug. 1, 8-Let It Begin goes turf to dirt and drops in for a first-time tag with good early zip to coincide with this afternoon’s outside draw. Rosario hops aboard and has done well riding for these connections from limited opportunities. 6-Running Iron was difficult to load but broke sharply with solid early foot, then quickly tired while clearly needing that run off the 11-month layoff. The gray daughter of Pavel moves back to dirt today for the all-important third start and drops into the maiden claiming ranks for the more-than-capable Paula Capestero. 1-I’m No Swifty has hit the board in two of three career tries for the Eurton barn and surrendered a 2 ½-length lead in last against this same $50k maiden claiming level.
Race #6: Selections: 4-9-8-1
4-Vino Vino Vino (by Vino Rosso) debuts for Team O’Neill off a solid worktab. This jockey-trainer combo scored with grass firsters Piedra Fria (11/1) and Little Opal (5/2) in their last pair of turf firsters over the Del Mar course this summer. Perhaps a threepeat for the leading barn? 9-On Edge is by the undefeated multiple Grade 1 winner Flightline, who is currently at 15% with his juvenile firsters and 25% with grass sprinters from small samples, according to DRF Formulator. The bay filly is nicely drawn outside and lures Rosario at first asking, who has two wins and a second with this barn’s last three debut runners this summer meet. 8-Deluge is one of two from the Baffert barn. She’s by Maximus Mischief (13% juvenile firsters/9% grass sprinters). This gal has trained smartly over the Del Mar main track, but this top barn remains 1-for-30 (3%) with grass firsters the past five years. First-call rider Juan Hernandez lands here. 1-Golden Bee must negotiate the tricky rail draw but holds the experience edge over several of these after closing for second on debut July 31
Race #7: Selections: 6-2-1
The $5 Late Daily Double kicks off here. 6-Simple Song should appreciate getting off the rail and moving outside after fading when battling through taxing early splits on July 31. The 4-year-old gelding was second in the Triple Bend (G3) prior to that subpar effort, with a lofty (92) main-track Beyer, and is a likely rebound candidate today, second off the bench. 2-Mr. Disrespectful flashed speed and tired to finish last when moved back to turf in the Aug. 1 California Dreamin S. The gray gelding wanted no part of that grass route and now turns back to the dirt sprinting, where he won two straight prior. 1-Speedy Wilson is the only entrant with a pair of 100 Beyers on his resume, but he had no response last time when coming up empty in the stretch drive. Rosario takes over for the D’Amato barn, and the colt is certainly capable of better.
Race #8: Selections: 4-2-3
The Sadler-trained 4-Just Work It Out was no match for runaway winner Daytona Diamond on debut Aug. 8 when bet down to 4-5 favoritism. The juvenile Justify filly moves to turf on the stretch-out in start number two, and this barn is a solid 7-for-31 (23%) with a $2.28 ROI with second-time grass route starters the past five years. She figures to be on or close to the lead this afternoon with Rosario getting the return mount. 2-Miss Mo Brown got on track too late when motoring home for the show spot when sprinting five panels on debut, and the Mo Forza bay filly figures to go better at today’s one-mile trip. 3-Big Blast (by Mr. Big) goes dirt to turf and also stretches out in start number two for the Yakteen barn after finishing third behind the top choice in last.
