Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 2-Enjoy the Ride (GB) (Race 3)
Race #1: Selections: 6-4-5
6-Nokie rallied for the place spot as the beaten even-money choice on July 4 at Los Al for trainer Mark Rheinford and now returns to Del Mar where he’s run well in three of four dirt sprints. The 7-year-old mare makes the third start of the form cycle. 4-Rock N Roll Song exits a ¾-length win at this same $6,250 claiming level on June 28 and figures for another favorable, upfront pressing journey. 5-Headed for Om only started on dirt once on debut in 14 lifetime starts and now gets back to the main track off a series of flat efforts against considerably better on grass. The substantial class drop could wake up this 5-year-old mare for trainer Tim Yakteen despite limited experience on dirt.
Race #2: Selections: 7-1-3
Blinkers on 7-Pavel’s Etoile is 1-for-16 but has enough early zip to get over from this afternoon’s outside draw and grab the early lead here with Ayuso. The gray daughter of Pavel may prove tough to reel in late if able to carve out reasonable splits despite finishing behind a pair of today’s rivals in last. Two sprints to a route 1-Christel Clean is back on dirt at Del Mar, and that should prove key for this filly whose both career wins came over this course and main track. She figures to be aggressively sent along from the fence by Rosario for trainer John Sadler. 3-Dorie Miller has lost as the public’s choice in four of her last five starts but, as evidenced by her lifetime mark of (37-2-11-8), she usually finds a way to finish underneath. Hernandez on and one-mile is her preferred trip.
Race #3: Selections: 2-8-5
2-Enjoy the Ride debuts for trainer Ryan Hanson off some snappy a.m. drills, and this jockey-trainer combo has teamed up with two turf sprint debut winners the past two years over this course—Fomo Jo (2024) and Uecker (2025). This juvenile colt by Om is likely to come out running. 8-Golden Club (by Clubhouse Ride) was no match for runaway winner Net Par on debut over this course July 18 but now moves to turf for career try number two and is a logical fit with any normal second-out progression. 5-Golden Sentry is by Grade 1 winner Halladay, who is 0-for-31 with firsters according to DRF Formulator. Nonetheless, the Carla Gaines-trained juvenile colt has some swift morning drill, indicating he could have abundant early zip, which is often key in five-furlong turf dashes.
Race #4: Selections: 4-7-6
4-Can’t Say That broke slowly and never got involved when finishing eighth when facing winners on turf on July 23 but gets back to dirt today where he was a maiden-breaking winner two back over this trip. The 3-year-old daughter of Vino Rosso sports the field’s best late pace figure and figures to get a live race flow to close into. A beaten favorite fourth in the last, 7-Good Golly Dolly now goes first off the claim for Knapp, who is a solid 10-for-45 (22%) with a positive ROI the past five years with dirt route new acquisitions. 6-Daddygaveittome is 1-for-20 but finished a better-than-looks wide third over at Los Al in her most recent start on July 3 and should fall into a decent stalking journey this afternoon.
Race #5: Selections: 3-1-6
3-Missed Fortune is by hot sire Pavel, who is 10-for-42 (23%) with debuting juveniles, and this colt has trained sharply for the Papaprodromou barn. He gets the nod despite the barn being 1-for-34 with grass firsters the past five years. Rispoli on. 1-Midnight Buck (by Mo Forza) must negotiate the rail draw but has been training nicely over the Santa Anita synthetic track for trainer Luis Mendez and figures to be hustled along by Maldonado from the fence. 6-Can’tafford Not To (by Sir Prancealot) debuts for trainer Carla Gaines off some sneaky-good a.m. drills and gets top turf rider Jaramillo for this afternoon’s unveiling.
Race #6: Selections: 8-4-5
8-Himari (by Nyquist) debuts for Team Baffert with Lasix off a series of solid a.m. drills, and the barn reaches out to go-to pilot leading rider Juan Hernandez looking for their third debut winner this summer meet. The other pair include Holmby (7/18) and Domus (7/25). 4-Sweet Swindler is a dark bay filly by Candy Ride who debuts for trainer Mark Glatt. This top barn is 8-for-37 (22%) with a lofty $4.39 ROI with sprint dirt debut runners at Del Mar the past five years. This filly’s July 5 “best of 95” bullet five furlongs in :59 flat certainly catches the eye. One of three 4-year-olds in the field, 5-Convo returns off a seven-month freshening for Sadler and finished a solid second in her lone main track Santa Anita sprint last December. Rosario is back aboard the $400k Keeneland purchase.
Race #7: Selections: 6-7-4
A non-threatening wide sixth in the last, 6-Living Life drops out of the G3 San Juan Capistrano into this softer spot today and was a solid winner at this level two back. The 6-year-old is reunited with winning pilot Hector Berrios and figures to be making up good ground late. 7-Poor Connection also was well back in the aforementioned San Juan Capistrano but finished second to the top choice two back and switches to Hernandez today. The D’Amato-trained 4-Mythical Reel (Ire) didn’t have much of a chance when stuck behind moderate fractions from a tough post in last and was the beaten tepid favorite when facing the top pair back on May 22. Nonetheless, his Beyers match up as good as anyone in here, and he needs only work out a more favorable trip today to contend in this wide-open race.
Race #8: Selections: 5-2-7
5-Sissel flashed speed and tired badly on debut July 5 when battling among some taxing 6 ½-furlong splits, but now drops in for a tag in start number two and gets off the fence for conditioner Andy Mathis. The sophomore daughter of Authentic should take these a lot further today, shortening up a furlong and switching to Rosario. 2-Zadra also has speed and moves back to dirt today, where he finished third twice against classier MDSW types and looks like a good fit here on the class plunge. 7-Grievous Angel returns off a 11-month hiatus today and was last seen finishing fourth on grass at Del Mar last August before hitting the sidelines. Another MDSW to maiden claimer class dropper who has worked swiftly for today’s return to action, including a :34.1 blowout gate drill on July 30.
