Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 7-Whynotanotherone (Race 6)
Race #1: Selections: 4-1-5
4-Bull Shoals has run well in three of four grass tries for trainer Jena Antonucci and ships in from Saratoga off back-to-back turf route runner-up efforts. The Mo Forza colt has exceeded par for this level in both those starts and looks tough to overhaul for his first try in Southern California. The Carla Gaines-trained 1-Royal Rumor finished a much-improved second at 12-1 on the stretch out July 24, and now moves from an outside slot to the rail draw. The gelded son of Palice Malice fired a sharp second-best of 54 five furlongs in :59.3 in the interim. 5-Going Nowhere makes career try number nine this afternoon, but has the speed to clear this field, stretching out an additional sixteenth of a mile. The gray gelding faded against a trio of today’s returning rivals in last, but does have runner-up efforts at a mile at this level that fit well.
Race #2: Selections: 4-3-2
4-Pretty Cecy disposed of a bulky, cheaper field by a widening 2 ¼-lengths on July 25 and looks like a solid repeat candidate. The 4-year-old filly shortens up to 5 ½ panels this afternoon but successfully handled this trip when breaking her maiden over this course back in 2024. 3-How Lovely (Ire) adds blinkers off the claim and is likely to get a favorable upfront pressing trip. She finished behind both Lovely Madaglia and Bear’s Board in the last, but has been facing considerably better the past two seasons. The aforementioned 2-Bear’s Board sprung back to life with the return to Del Mar and the cutback in distance in last and was making headway on the race winner Danzing Flyer late.
Race #3: Selections: 7-5-3
A beaten even-money favorite at Los Al in last, 7-Repo (by Nyquist) has run well in both career tries for conditioner Michael McCarthy and now makes the all-important third career start. The juvenile colt should be ready for a career-best effort this afternoon. 5-Little King is a logical threat in start number two after closing wide for the show spot in an encouraging unveiling July 19. The juvenile colt sports the best Beyer speed figure in the field and is dangerous with any normal second-out progression. Well backed on debut, 3-Is That You Wing was no match for race winner Prime Listing back in May but was well clear of the third-place finisher when second and has trained steadily for Blacker since getting back on the work tab.
Race #4: Selections: 8-5-3
8-Hacking It Up is a winner of two of his last four grass tries for trainer Peter Miller and takes a sizable class plunge today, shortening back up to a sprint dash. The 6-year-old gelding is reunited with winning pilot Antonio Fresu. The lightly raced 5-Scene by Me couldn’t match strides with the top pair in last but ran reasonably well nonetheless for Glatt and should move forward this afternoon, second off the bench. 3-Disko Tribute returns off the mini-freshening for trainer Craig Dollase, finishing a solid third when last seen back in mid-April. This 7-time winning veteran gelding is a proven winner over this course and distance.
Race #5: Selections: 5-1-6
The multiple graded stakes-winning 5-Sweet Azteca is 8-for-10 lifetime and brings in a three-race winning streak today since switching over to the Richard Baltas barn. She was in hand late when winning the Great Lady M (G2) off the 11-month break, and figures to be even more cranked up today, second off the bench. This talented gal was a 7-length romp to victory in this event last year. If the top choice falters, the most likely winner is 1-Thermal, who comes off an eye-catching romp and a (106) winning Beyer in the May 25 Memorial Day Sprint at Los Al. The Nyquist mare has been training exceptionally well in the a.m., looking for her third straight score. Baltas’ other mare, 6-Sweet Gal of Mine, moves back to dirt off a pair of game turf sprint tries but would need more than a career-best run to match the top pair this afternoon.
Race #6: Selections: 7-11-2
The Bob Hess-trained 7-Whynotanotherone will be tough to beat this afternoon if he runs back to that last (74) Beyer speed figure on May 24 when finishing second. The 3-year-old gelding drops another notch this afternoon and figures to fall into an ideal stalking journey. 11-Rapid Ascent arrives from the Midwest for new conditioner Antonio Garcia, who was 5-for-15 as of this writing this meet. This Quality Road gelding takes a class drop for his first try in Southern California off a pair of ok fourth-place efforts at Churchill and Horseshoe Indy. 2-Hoosick Falls drops again and removes the blinkers for Mullins while making the third start of the current form cycle.
Race #7: Selections: 1-7-2
The lightly raced recent maiden winner 1-Goodies beat a bulky field when stretched out to today’s one-mile trip on opening day and looks well-placed by D’Amato for her first crack against winners. This filly has plenty of upside. 7-Midnight Horizon (Ire) crossed the wire third but was placed second via DQ on July 25 in what was a solid second-time Stateside turf effort. This filly showed ability in Ireland before heading over to America and landing in the Dan Blacker barn. Another progressive move is likely forthcoming. 2-Miss Phansy was part of that messy aforementioned July 25 inquiry, and moved up to third after finishing fourth at the wire. The consistent daughter of Karakontie has hit the board in 10 of 12 lifetime tries and exits a career-best Beyer (79). She’s dangerous with a cleaner journey.
Race #8: Selections: 9-1-2
A winner two-back, 9-Leyas Candy slashes his claiming tag in half off a well-beaten third back on June 6. He’s trained well in the interim and figures to be tough to reel in late here if getting clear from the outside draw. 1-Mongolian Max was no match for runaway winner Pioneer Prince in the last, but drops in for a career-low claiming tag today while making the third start of the current form cycle. The gray gelding figures to trip out nicely from the fence. Two of his three career wins have come over this racetrack, so 2-Big Juanito deserves a long look returning to Del Mar. He’s never run for this low of a claiming tag, and trainer Bob Hess has had himself a fine meet.
Race #9: Selections: 7-8-6
A highly competitive turf dash kicks off the $5 Late Double. A good spot to try a price play in a wide-open race. 7-The Rabbi hasn’t been out since the fall of last year, but has been training steadily for Ron Ellis, and this 5-year-old has a good late punch when getting the right set-up. He should get such a scenario this afternoon and come rolling late. 8-Gettinby makes his initial dirt try with little turf pedigree to speak for, but the colt has won three straight over the main track with some lofty Beyer figures, including a 97 and 92 in his last two starts at Santa Anita and Oaklawn. The colt is back off a two-month mini-freshening. Hernandez and Williams are 6-for-13 (46%) overall when teamed up together. 6-Dhitjari (GB) has yet to hit the board since arriving Stateside in February, but drops in class this afternoon, looking for that competitive level for a lucrative jockey-trainer combo.
Race #10: Selections: 13-4-9-8
13-Let It Begin is stuck on the AE’s but only needs one detraction to draw in. The 3-year-old filly would prove difficult to overhaul, dropping from MDSW to today’s bottom-level $12,500 maiden claiming level, while moving back to the main track. 4-Little Sandy Bee (by More Than Ready) was outrun in both grass tries at Santa Anita, but drops in class today, switches to dirt, and adds blinkers. 9-Stylishly Big is by Mr. Big, who gets a below-average 12% with a 3-year-old-and-up debuting prodigy. The John Sadler-trained sophomore debuts with Lasix, lures Hernandez at first-asking, and this barn is fully capable of winning with a firster. 8-List My Biz is by Listing, who is an impressive 4-for-9 (44%) with firsters, according to DRF Formulator. Antonio Garcia’s barn has been sending out live runners all summer.
