Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 8-Little Rachel (Race #5)
Race #1: Friday’s $50,000 Maiden Claiming opener for 2-year-old fillies has 5 first time starters, but we’re leaning on the runners with prior racing experience. 8-Cocktail Princess will attract solid support based on her two runner-up finishes and 3rd place effort in most recent start for new conditioner Steve Knapp who also has first time starter Golden Again on the rail. This gal has shown good speed in all her starts; has run the fastest Beyers in the field and now drops into Maiden Claimers for the first time. This barn is, however, 0 for 13 with this class drop. 10-All Hallows broke slowly in Pleasanton debut 19 days ago and now returns for a $50k claiming tag for trainer Tim McCanna who is 3 for 11 (27%) with a $3.82 ROI with MDSW to MDCLM class droppers in start number two. 3-Yo Yo Mama had an excusable tough journey in June 26 debut try at Los Al and now drops into Maiden claimers for career start number two for conditioner Brian Koriner. This filly has worked 3 times since that effort and shows a much-improved 4-furlong drill in :47.3 over the track July 22.
Selections: 8-10-3
Race #2: 6-Overdue hasn’t shown much in last three starts but comes off the mini-freshening today and drops in class for a lucrative jockey/trainer combo that are already 3 for 7 at this current meet. This veteran 7-year-old gelding may try and wire these. 10-Border Town was hard to handle in the early stages of most recent start before unleashing a bold move going from 6th to first just past the half mile marker. The 6-year-old gelding flattened out in the stretch drive, but now drops in class and switches to hot grass rider who may be able to work out a better trip. 4-Niles Channel moves back to turf and should be forwardly placed this afternoon which can only help his chances.
Selections: 6-10-4
Race #3: 5-Charge Cash was a voided claim when last seen back in mid-May but has trained sharply since then and returns for half the “for-sale” price. This gelding has run par or better on multiple occasions for this class level, however, and appears well-spotted of the mini freshening. 11-Square Deal just missed in most recent start at Golden Gate and now ships in for new barn that has above average numbers with new acquisitions. This 5-year-old is a multiple winner over the racetrack. Class dropping 6-High Heater goes second off the claim today for trainer Bob Hess and moves back to the main track. There’s potential for a wake-up call in this spot.
Selections: 5-11-6
Race #4: Trainer Carla Gaines has done extremely well with these long layoff types and 6-Candy On Top comes off 253 days rest this afternoon. She’s been working steadily for her return; adds Lasix and was last seen finishing 6th over this turf course last November. She’s likely matured and improved since then and projects to get a nice favorable stalking trip today. 5-Avery Blue still managed to finish second in most recent start while overcoming a brief stumble at the start and now makes the all-important 3rd career start for trainer Neil Drysdale. She owns the field’s top last-out turf Beyer (61). 4-Callhercontessa stretches out and moves to grass for her second career start and is by multiple Grade 1 winning turf router Acclamation.
Selections: 6-5-4
Race #5: The pace projection for this dirt sprint is for some swift opening numbers which should bode well for 8-Little Rachel. The lightly raced 5-year-old mare drops in class; goes turf to dirt and is reunited with winning rider. She should be able to mow these down late. 4-La V. moves back to the main track making second start off the layoff today and should appreciate the class relief for trainer Leonard Powell. She’s worked 3 times since her even 5th place finish June 11. The speedy 5-Seven Sisters returns off the freshening for a great layoff barn and is 2 for 2 over this racetrack. Winning rider Ricardo Gonzalez is back onboard and is 4 for 10 (40%) with a $6.06 ROI when teamed up with these connections.
Selections: 8-4-5
Race #6: 5-Leggs Galore gets serious class relief today dropping out of the Grade 1 Longines Just a Game at Belmont where she faced some of the best turf fillies and mares in the country. This speedy gal cuts back to 5 furlongs where she’s 3 for 3; is proven over this course and will be tough to reel in for trainer Phil D’Amato. 1-Royal Address (Ire) has run well off the layoff in the past and co-tops the field’s best last out turf Beyer (85). Regular pilot Joe Bravo is back onboard and rode her to victory three-back. If the top two knock heads early on, he could pick up the pieces late and post the mild upset. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner 7-Twilight Gleaming (Ire) will keep the top pick honest up front and has never finished worse than 2nd in 7 career starts for trainer Wesley Ward. She’s been working steadily on the Saratoga sod for this; attracts top rider and is nicely drawn outside.
Selections: 5-1-7
Race #7: 4-She’s Bulletproof is one of two Peter Miller-trained fillies going turf to dirt and this gal has been training over the main track for today’s engagement. The barn is a solid 10 for 36 (28%) with a positive $2.56 ROI the past two years at Del Mar with the surface change and this filly looks more than capable of handling the stretch-out to a mile. 2-Race Judicata has been knocking on the door at this optional $20k claiming 1x level for several months now including finishing 2nd in most recent start to next-out winning filly All Dialed In. She has good tactical early zip; likes the mile trip and is trained by Phil D’Amato who is off to a quick start. 9-Kleen Karma had a sharp runner-up try at 48/1 in most recent start and now moves to the main track and stretches back out for trainer Craig Lewis. This 5-year-old mare has a nice late kick that should bode well with today’s projected spirited lively fractions and class drop.
Selections: 4-2-9
Race #8: 3-Take the Two Ten improved Beyer-wise on the stretch-out to a mile and gets some class relief this afternoon for trainer Mike Puype. 9-Hulk makes his initial dirt attempt for Mullins but is bred to handle the main track sired by Grade 1 winner Dialed In. The 4-year-old gelding takes a substantial class drop today and is projected to be on or close to the lead. 10-Chickasaw owns the field’s best last-out dirt Beyer (63) off a wide trip at Los Al and now makes the all-important 3rd career start for trainer Thomas Bell. Another move forward today makes this 3-year-old gelding one of the main contenders in the nightcap.
Selections: 3-9-10
