Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 7-Sabertooth (Race 5)
Race #1: Selections: 1-3-5
Class-dropping 1-Cheekiest has seen her Beyers improve with each subsequent start in the last three tries since the mini-freshening for conditioner Mike Puype. The 4-year-old filly figures to catch a live pace to close into in the Black Friday afternoon opener. 3-Leopardess (GB) defeated a pair of next-out winners when last seen on Oct. 13, when finishing fourth at this level. The filly switches to French jockey Vincent Cheminaud, who rides this Del Mar grass course exceptionally well. 5-Miss Will steps up to face winners off the recent Maiden turf route score for red-hot Glatt Barn, which had an impressive 12 wins from 30 starts (40%) at the beginning of this race program.
Race #2: Selections: 4-1-3
4-Scarlet Avenue was no match for the Michael McCarthy-trained runaway winner Accuracy, who popped an impressive (107) Beyer in her Maiden victory on Oct. 19. Nonetheless, getting the runner-up spot to that talented gal was a solid effort. This $800k pricey daughter of Street Sense should make amends for conditioner John Sadler this afternoon. A strong five-furlong bullet drill on Nov. 24 adds to the appeal. 1-Halone goes two sprints to a route today for Team Baffert while also going second-time Lasix. She is bred to relish two turns. Her stablemate, 3-Nafisa, exits the same race as the top pair when fading badly after pressing the pace. She has come back to work well since that disappointing effort.
Race #3: Selections: 9-4-5
If he can avoid a regression, 9-Terry’s Boy looks tough right back for trainer Jeff Mullins after scampering away to a three-length win on Oct. 4 at Santa Anita over a pair of next-out winners. The 8-time winning 7-year-old earned a career-best (98) Beyer for that solid effort and looks poised to take his third straight. 4-Patron D’Oro is wheeled back in less than three weeks’ rest off of a perfect trip score on Nov. 10 when making only his second career start on turf. 5-Dealers Special cuts back to five panels off a series of solid grass route finishes for Baltas. The Upstart gelding has a pair of strong grass drills since falling just short on Sept. 8.
Race #4: Selections: 4-1-2
4-Venice Vibe goes first off the claim for trainer Peter Miller off an impressive 7 ¼-length Maiden Claiming victory just two weeks ago. This barn is a strong 7 for 20 (35%) with a $2.48 ROI with sprint dirt new acquisitions at Del Mar the past four years. 1-Iconic Memory has run well in both career tries at Los Al and Santa Anita for trainer Steve Knapp and will look to transfer that solid form over to this venue. She figures to be hustled along from the rail. A beaten favorite in last at this level, 2-Don’t Tell Tammo makes start number three today after getting bottled up with stretch traffic on Oct. 19. She is a significant threat this afternoon with clear sailing. Hernandez sticks.
Race #5: Selections: 7-5-1
7-Sabertooth has hit the board in four of five career efforts for trainer Tim Yakteen without breaking through and now drops back down into the Maiden ranks off a series of small stake tries. The Grazen colt has run far superior turf Beyer figures than his main rivals and has the right off-the-pace running style that has been effective this meet. One last chance. 5-King of Dragons is improving and makes the all-important third career try today for conditioner Richard Baltas. The son of Sir Prancealot (Ire) finished a good second in his last try over next-out winning colt Dynodave. First-time gelding 1-Marc the Money Man has not shown much ability in both grass sprint tries to date but can improve this afternoon for D’Amato on the stretch-out. 8-Miles Finch stretches out in start number two off a strong debut effort. This barn has solid second-time turf stats and lures Prat.
Race #6: Selections: 5-4-6
Class-dropping 5-Ace of Clubs returns off the layoff as a first-time gelding with Lasix for Team O’Neill. The son of multiple G1 winner Mor Spirit has been overmatched in route stake tries the last several starts but returns sprinting today and is eligible to bounce back at this softer level. He’s 2 for 2 at Del Mar. Blinkers on 4-Journey D’ Oro returns to Del Mar, where he was an impressive winner three-back. The 3-year-old colt figures to be on or close to the lead with aggressive gate rider Edwin Maldonado. 6-Wild Recruit co-tops the field’s best last-out Beyer off a recent eight-length runaway Maiden score on Nov. 9. The 3-year-old gelding looks appropriately place for his first crack against winners.
Race #7: Selections: 11-3-4
11-True Quality is a true road warrior, winning three straight for conditioner Jonathan Thomas at different venues. The son of Quality Road must negotiate today’s outside draw, but it should be minimal hindrance– based on his off-the-pace solid running style. He just took a Grade 3 at Woodbine from post 13. He looks like the now horse, and Cheminaud gets the return mount. The Grade 2-winning 3-Dicey Mo Chara (GB) returns off the mini-freshening for trainer Leonard Powell and has been ultra-consistent routing over this grass course. The 6-year-old gelding is reunited with winning pilot Flavien Prat this afternoon. D’Amato-trained 4-Divin Propos (Fr) lost all realistic chance in the Grade 2 John Henry when rank and unsettled while fighting his rider behind a stagnant pace. The 4 for 11 gelding was a decisive N2X winner over this strip two-back and is eligible to bounce back in this spot.
Race #8: Selections 2-4-5
The lightly-raced 2-Accuracy (by Arrogate) is a short-priced standout for trainer Michael McCarthy off his blowout Maiden victory on Oct. 19, winning by 15 lengths with a lofty (107) Beyer speed figure. She has returned to work well since that giant performance and should ease through the next condition level. If the top choice misfires or badly regresses, 4-Ultimate Authority is the next logical contender to pick up the pieces. She returns from an eight-month layoff for conditioner Tim Yakteen and has trained steadily for today’s return to action. Her figures tower over the rest of the field. Someone needs to finish third, and perhaps that’s turf to dirt 5-Lovin’ On the Run.
Race #9: Selections 3-7-4
After a three-month layoff, the 3-year-old filly 3-Strutting (GB) makes her stateside debut for trainer Michael McCarthy with Lasix. She has trained well locally and shown some ability overseas. 7-Wrigleyville gets her seventh different jockey in as many starts for conditioner Jack Sisterson. She drops in class off a solid runner-up finish on Nov. 3. 4-Faith Understood returns off a five-month layoff for conditioner Jonathan Thomas who has run well with all his starters at this venue this meet. The lightly-raced 3-year-old faces older rivals this afternoon for the first time but has shown a ton of talent thus far.
