Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 3-Mizzyaan (Race 7)
Race #1: Selections: 2-6-1
2-Imaboutago (Ire) ships east for trainer Wesley Ward off a nearly six-month freshening but has been training steadily at Keeneland for today’s return to action. To begin her career, this filly won both Gulfstream and Fair Grounds grass sprints. 6-Shaungxi (Ire) is another East Coast shipper making her first start for a new barn. She’ll need to improve on the Beyer scale but is stakes-placed at Monmouth and arrives here a fresh horse. 1-Ivory Moon steps up in class off a game six-furlong 10-1 upset grass sprint win at Santa Anita in her first Southern California start.
Race #2: Selections: 2-4-6
A beaten favorite in the last pair, 2-I’m Still in It co-tops the field’s best last-out main track Beyer (56), and exits a game runner-up finish at this level on August 23. 4-Spirit Rules drops another notch in class, making career start number two today for Miller. She’s run competitive figures for this level in her last pair. 6-Que Bella Luna finished a disappointing wide eighth and last in her August 24 debut when attracting decent tote support. The daughter of Standford drops from $50k Maiden Claimers to $20,000 in career start number two for Ellis and may offer more run than she showed in her unveiling.
Race #3: Selections 1-9-5
1-Dandy Vandy (Fr) just missed the show spot in an OK racing debut on Sept. 27 for D’Amato and is bred to handle the stretch out to two turns successfully. This top barn is 7 for 26 (27%) with a $2.32 ROI with grass sprint-to-route second-time starters at Del Mar for the past five years. Her stablemate 9-Slick (Ire) makes her first stateside start today off an encouraging runner-up finish at Tipperary in Ireland. She drilled a bullet five furlongs at Santa Anita over the synthetic surface on Oct. 27 and lures Dettori. 5-Gathered ships east for trainer Graham Motion off a sharp beaten-favorite third in her most recent start at Laurel. She’s trained well at Fair Hill since that effort.
Race #4: Selections: 3-2-5
3-Saltwater Cowboy gets the tepid vote after finishing wide trip fifth on Oct. 4 at Santa Anita when facing winners for the first time and can improve here on the return to Del Mar. The 3-year-old colt broke her Maiden over the course two-back with a solid (80) Beyer. 2-Demotivate rallied for second at this level at 17-1 when finishing in front of the top choice in last. The Ghostzapper gelding will be tough if he can return to that last figure. 5-J B Strikes Back is yet another gelding exiting the aforementioned Oct. 4 event, and he can improve with the switch of venues back at Del Mar.
Race #5: Selections: 2-6-7
Reddam Racing’s 2-Hot Legs Ramolo finished a game second when flashing good speed after dropping to this level in his most recent start on Sept. 5. The 1 for 15 gelding shortens back up to a mile today and projects to be forwardly placed yet once again. The late-closing 6-Nashoba’s Joy drops to a career-low $25k claiming tag for conditioner Carla Gaines. The gelding will need a live race flow to close into. 7-Duran returns to the Del Mar turf course where he was a one-mile Maiden $50k winner three-back. The 4-year-old gelding drops in class for trainer George Papaprodromou and can improve off his most recent pair of subpar seventh-place finishes against better.
Race #6: Selections: 2-6-3
2-Letmein is by Mr. Big, who gets an average of 14% with his debuting 2-year-old prodigy. Trainer Mark Glatt is 7 for 26 (27%) with a $2.32 ROI with dirt sprint starters the past four years. This gelding is worth a shot at first asking in a race without any world beaters. 6-Whiskyginandbrandy returns to the main track today and finished a good second two-back at this level with a competitive (59) Beyer. 3-One Smokin Dude goes turf to dirt in his second career try for trainer Steve Miyadi and is eligible to improve.
Race #7: Selections: 3-2-1
Recent Maiden winner 3-Mizzyaan steps up off his sharp 3 ¼-length score and has improved immensely since switching to grass. This daughter of Justify is dangerous right back with any further progression. 2-Ketonia (Fr) finished a wide closing third when last seen at this level on Sept. 2 for trainer Ron Ellis. The 3-year-old filly switches to jockey Juan Hernandez this afternoon, and this jockey-trainer combo is 5 for 12 (42%) overall with turf starters. 1-Wrigleyville moves inside on the class drop and projects to sit a favorable ground-saving journey for conditioner Jack Sisterson.
Race #8: Selections: 2-7-4
2-Dance Man was overmatched in his last allowance N2L grass sprint three months ago but now takes a sizable class plunge for trainer Leonard Powell and is a strong gate-to-wire threat at this reduced level. The gelding is reunited with the winning Maiden apprentice rider Welfin Orantes. 7-Lettheliquortalk is another turf-to-dirt class dropper for trainer Jeff Mullins, who figures to be forwardly placed. Two-speed number? Turf to dirt 4-Petesoldfashioned makes his second start off the Steve Knapp claim and is back sprinting over the main track. He’ll be rallying late.
Race #9: Selections: 8-2-1
8-Sassy Prancelot goes two sprints to a route for trainer Phil D’Amato and is eligible to improve on the stretch-out. 2-Satellite Heart has finished second in both turf route tries with competitive figures. Blinkers off 1-Only Reputation was a troubled trip sixth on Oct. 6 in her two-turn debut and is eligible to bounce back in her third career start. Hernandez takes over the riding assignment.
RACE 7:
“2-Ketonia (Fr) finished a wide closing third when last seen at this level on Sept. 2 for trainer Ron Ellis. The 3-year-old filly switches to jockey Juan Hernandez this afternoon, and this jockey-trainer combo is 5 for 12 (42%) overall with turf starters.”
However, Hernandez is riding #11 Runamileinmyshoes for Mullins.
What is their jockey-trainer combo overall with turf starters? TIA