Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 8-Disposition (Race 3)
Race #1: Selections: 2-3-7
2-Maniae finished well for the place spot after breaking a step slow in her Pleasanton debut on July 6 and now stretches out an additional furlong in start number two. Trainer Andy Mathis is a solid 6 for 17 (35%) with a $5.85 ROI for the past five years overall with his second-time starter at Del Mar. 3-Veronica’s Gem finished an even sixth in her July 5 unveiling at Los Al and now adds blinkers for her second start. This barn is 8 for 33 (24%) with a $2.89 ROI with their second-time starters over the local strip. 7-Mayacama is by Grade 1 winner Klimt debuting for the Jeff Mullins barn. This outfit had two longshot first-time starter winners last Friday with A Toast to Lanie ($23.80) and Antislas ($29.20).
Race #2: Selections: 7-5-2
7-Golden Temper returns off nearly a year layoff for conditioner Carla Gaines, who has a win and a pair of runner-up finishes with her three most recent long layoff grass returnees. This 4-year-old filly has enough early zip to get involved from her outside post and work out a favorable trip. Her stablemate, 5-True Patriot, rallied well for the show spot back on June 1 against similar rivals at Santa Anita but will need some pace to run into. 2-Super Enticing doesn’t have much grass pedigree, and her lone try on turf last August was a subpar effort. Nonetheless, the Peter Miller charge moves back to the green for her second start of the meet and switches to top turf pilot Umberto Rispoli on the stretch-out. She’s worth inclusion in this wide-open N2L.
Race #3: Selections: 8-4-2
Turf to dirt 8-Disposition returns off the mini-freshening for trainer Michael McCarthy and drops in for a first-time tag today. The Palace Malice filly has trained exceptionally well recently and fired a (72) Beyer when last seen on the main track in her March debut. 4-She’s Muy Muy has hit the board in four of five career tries for Glatt and drops back in for a tag today off the 11-week break. 2-Running Super exits a live “key” race in her June 15 debut that’s produced three next-out winners and has worked five times since that effort. This daughter of Runhappy had a “best of 91” :59 flat gate drill on July 24.
Race #4: Selections: 7-3-5
Blinkers on 7-Rugelach is reunited with winning pilot Juan Hernandez today after a two-month break and drops in for a career-low $40k claiming tag. The 4-year-old filly is 2 for 2 over this turf course and is a strong gate-to-wire threat again this afternoon at likely short odds. 3-Adelie (Ire) steps up in class, exiting a solid one-mile 2 ½-length turf win at Golden Gate on June 9 for D’Amato. This 5-year-old mare is proven over this course, having broken her Maiden here last November. She co-tops the field’s best last-out turf Beyer (76). 5-She’s Got a Way stretches out off the July 25 $32K claim when finishing a wide, non-threatening sixth. The 5-year-old mare can improve for the new barn.
Race #5: Selections: 10-2-3
10-Smiling Beast was well-backed and delivered with a strong 2 ½-length debut win on May 25 from off the pace and is likely to get another live race flow to close into. The Smiling Tiger gelding has trained well over the local strip since that productive unveiling. 2-Kerry Gold goes turf to dirt and shortens up today off the recent claim and has run some dirt races that fit well here. He’s another in here who would benefit from a pace meltdown, and that scenario might just come to fruition. 3-Windribbon goes first off the claim for trainer Peter Miller after flashing good speed and fading through some taxing early splits on July 21. The veteran 8-year-old gelding is likely to have some company upfront, however.
Race #6: Selections: 7-8-1
The Michael McCarthy-trained 7-Uncle Evco is by Smiling Tiger, who gets an ordinary 11% with his debuting prodigy. This juvenile colt attracts Hernandez for his local unveiling, however, and is likely well-meant. 8-Johnson’s Magic (by Mr. Big) has trained sharply for conditioner John Sadler and lures Rispoli for his initial start. 1-Sevak is by Om, who is 3 for 15 (20%) with his debuting prodigy and 3 for 12 (25%) with turf sprinters. The juvenile gelding must negotiate the tricky rail draw but has trained well enough for conditioner Jorge Periban.
Race #7: Selections 4-3-6
4-Bodacious returns to Southern California after a disappointing speed and fade in the Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill on June 30. This 2-year-old colt by Smokem was an impressive 5 ¼-length Maiden debut winner at Santa Anita in quick time in his debut and is eligible to bounce back today over a main track that’s been kind to speed. 3-R Heisman finished second to Bodacious three-back and has racked up a win and second-place effort in his last pair of starts, including a runner-up placement in the Everett Nevin Stake at Pleasanton on July 7. He fired a strong four-furlongs in :46.4 on August 2. R Heisman’s stablemate 6-Case Hit (by Frosted) might be the speed of the speed after holding on for the gate-to-wire debut winning effort on June 16 for Team Miller.
Race #8: Selections: 2-6-1
2-Mega Moon returns off the mini-freshening for trainer Peter Miller and has run well over the Del Mar turf course (3-1-2-0). The 4-year-old gelding has a versatile running style which should serve him well with today’s inside draw. He’s reunited with Maiden-winning pilot Antonio Fresu who had three winners Thursday afternoon. 6-Incredible Shot goes two sprints to a route on the class drop for the Papaprodromou barn and switches to Rispoli. The late-closing 1-Explain This Audit needs to work out a trip through traffic late but figures to be motoring home swiftly at this $30k level while cutting back to the mile. Trainer Craig Dollase has won three of 10 starts this seaside meet as of this writing.
