Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 7-Little Opal (Race 4)
Race #1: Selections: 4-1-2
4-Yours Sincerely (Ire) kicked clear for the sharp win on Aug. 2, posting the field’s best last-out grass Beyer (85) and looms a repeater with a similar effort. 1-Surfin’ U.S.A. finished a troubled trip fourth when breaking a step slow, accompanied by some traffic issues, and now moves inside with Hernandez back in the saddle, second off the bench. The speedy 2-Echos of Violence returns off an 11-month hiatus for a new barn and makes his initial turf try in Southern California for conditioner Sean Williams. He adds Lasix and is by Violence, who gets an average 13% with turf sprinters.
Race #2: Selections: 9-3-6-1
9-Acclaim Perfection is by multiple Grade 1 winner Acclamation, who is only 5-for-127 (5%) with his 3-year-old-and-up debuting prodigy. Nonetheless, this filly is nicely drawn outside off a steady work tab and lures Hernandez at first asking. 3-Blame the Track (by Listing) ran a better-than-looks fourth in a well-backed debut back on June 5 at Santa Anita for trainer Simon Callaghan and is eligible to move forward off that effort with the addition of blinkers. 6-Allied Fleet (by Omaha Beach) debuts with Lasix for the red-hot Carla Gaines barn, who is definitely capable of winning on debut and scored with Kimira aboard 10-1 firster Daytona Diamond back on Aug. 8. 1-Volcanologist goes turf to dirt on the turnback and has plenty of early zip to coincide with her inside draw.
Race #3: Selections: 3-7-1
The lightly raced 3-Toaster (a $525k Keeneland purchase by McKinzie) has not been seen for Team Baffert since winning on debut back in December of last year at Los Al. The sophomore filly has trained smartly for her return to action this afternoon and gets Lasix today. 7-Fire Ban drops out of the G3 Rancho Bernardo into this softer spot today, and was a sharp winner two-back going longer. The 5-year-old mare switches to Rosario this afternoon. 1-Scary Fast Ride has not run as well at Del Mar as Santa Anita, as the filly’s 0-for-7 mark indicates, but the 7-year-old mare goes second off the Andy Mathis claim and figures to get a favorable tracking journey from the fence.
Race #4: Selections: 7-4-5
7-Little Opal (by multiple G1 winner Caravaggio) sped away to an impressive gate-to-wire score on debut with a lofty (90) grass Beyer in tow for Team O’Neill and figures to repeat with anything resembling that sharp debut performance. 4-Long Mayshe Reign could secure a two-speed number for trainer Steve Knapp looking for her fourth straight turf sprint win this afternoon, going out for her new conditioner off the Aug. 7 claim. 5-Sweet Gal of Mine exits back-to-back runner-up finishes for Baltas with competitive grass sprint Beyers and gets her 11th different jockey in 15 lifetime starts. The 5-year-old mare usually prefers to finish underneath, however.
Race #5: Selections: 7-1-10
The Tim Yakteen-trained 7-Big Broadcast (by Mr. Big) finished an even third when attracting solid tote support on debut for trainer Tim Yakteen, finishing an even third when facing several of these, and is eligible to move forward today with that racing experience behind her. This barn is 13-for-51 (25%) with a $3.49 ROI with second-time sprint dirt starters. Rosario sticks. 1-Quick Up flashed improved early speed on the class plunge in start number two when tiring to finish second in front of the top choice in that Aug. 9 five-furlong main track sprint and figures to be sent along again from the rail. 10-Harkette drops from $50k down to $20,000 today in start number two after flashing speed and tiring to third on debut.
Race #6: Selections: 7-2-9
7-Daytona Diamond was an impressive 5 ¼-length 10-1 debut winner for conditioner Carla Gaines on debut July 23 over a pair of next-out winners, and steps right up into the stakes ranks off that maiden romp. The dark bay filly by Tonalist figures to perhaps catch a similar pace setup this afternoon with an abundance of speed signed on. Her two four-furlong works since that effort have been solid. 2-Palo Alto Baby (by Stanford) was a dominant winner of her own right on debut, coasting to a 9 ¼-length score at first-asking on July 18 for Sadler. A professional maiden score two-back, 9-Stay Bossy was no match for Free Closer in the CTBA S. on Aug. 2 but finished in front of a trio of today’s returning rivals.
Race #7: Selections: 2-4-5
2-Dream Seeker (by Girvin) debuted at today’s one-mile trip for trainer Michael McCarthy on July 26 and ran well for third considering it was his initial start. He switches to Hernandez this afternoon and is dangerous with any normal second-out progression. A solid second on debut, 4-Bliksem stretches out in start number two for conditioner Jeff Mullins and is bred to like two turns. The juvenile colt is by Grade 1 winner Basin, who is 5-for-23 (21%) with turf routers. The Richard Baltas barn sends out 5-Virevolte, who is a son of Twirling Candy. This colt has trained smartly over the main track, and these connections are 3-for-11 (27%) with a $3.16 ROI with turf sprint firsters at Del Mar.
Race #8: Selections: 1-6-7
1-Miss Jo’s Curlin was hardly disgraced when finishing an even fourth of a year layoff last time out and is likely to move forward off that effort, second off the bench. The 5-year-old gelding has had two nice maintenance four-furlong drills since. Debut winning favorite 6-Driftinganddreaming steps up to face winners after taking a $50k maiden claimer Aug. 2 for Rosario and Sadler, and this Volatile colt may have more to offer stretching out an additional furlong. 7-Special Club ran well off the Papaprodromou claim to grab the place spot on Aug. 8, when finishing in front of a pair of today’s returning rivals, and this barn has solid stats with second-of-the-purchase acquisitions (7-for-24 (29%) in dirt sprints.
