Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 2-Tapalo (Race 4)
Race #1: Selections: 6-1-7
The D’Amato-trained 6-Killourney Reigns (Ire) broke a step slow on his Stateside debut, rushed up to battle for the lead when headstrong, and then tired to fourth in what was a decent effort considering the eight-month layoff. The Irish import has trained well in the interim, and should move forward this afternoon, second off the bench. His stablemate, 1-Dr. My Eyes finished well to dead heat for fourth in his first start over the course on July 26, and like the top choice, is eligible to improve upon that effort. 7-Tap the Gin exits the same May 15 event as Killourney Reigns and returns as a first-time gelding today for Glatt. The son of Tiz the Law came up flat when getting clear sailing late in the stretch drive, but perhaps the mini-freshening and newly gelded status moves him up.
Race #2: Selections: 3-5-2
A half dozen fillies return out of the July 31 $12,500 maiden claiming event. I’ll give 3-Dame It Dani another chance. The daughter of Stay Thirsty made a menacing wide move around the final turn into contention before flattening out late to finish fourth. She stretches back out today for her second try over the Del Mar main track. Blinkers off, 5-Lady Ruth makes career try number eight today but drops another notch and has posted some of the swiftest dirt Beyer speed figures of the group. Rosario on. 2-Dancing With Shari goes two sprints to a route today after hitting the board in both starts since dropping to this level. She’s bred to handle the additional real estate.
Race #3: Selections: 3-9-5
A wide-open juvenile turf route with little previous turf or main track form to go off of makes leg on one of the $2 Pick Six a challenge. Perhaps the board will help. 3-Baby T goes dirt to turf on the stretch out for conditioner Antonio Garcia, who has had himself a fine 2026 Del Mar stand. This juvenile returns off the mini-freshening as a first-time gelding, and his sire Pavel gets a respectable 16% with grass routers. 9-Missed Fortune got bet on debut to favoritism and was shuffled while in tight along the rail before escaping that spot and rushing out of the pocket into contention. The Pavel juvenile ran on well enough once clear and finished up well for the Papaprodromou barn. Rosario sticks. 5-Lying Zero has been well-backed in both dirt sprint starts to start her career for Team O’Neill. She finished second on debut behind runaway winner Jolene Fury, and was then a disappointing fifth at Los Al in start number two. The blinkers come off today for the stretch-out and turf try. The wagering support in both starts hints that this gal has more to offer than perhaps meets the eye.
Race #4: Selections: 2-7-1
Class dropping 2-Tapalo has run par or better for this level on multiple occasions for trainer Steve Knapp and hasn’t exactly had the best of trips in his most recent starts. From a mid-race tracking position this afternoon, Kimura should be in a good spot to pounce on the frontrunners late and take over in the late stages of this 5 ½-furlong sprint. A multiple winner over the track and distance, 7-Des Doigts drops a notch of a trio of solid main track sprint tries and figures to get a favorable upfront pressing journey this afternoon. 1-King Apollo hasn’t been out in nearly 14 months for Hess but returns for a career-low claiming tag and steady a.m. work tab. No telling what the 7-year-old still has left in the tank, but he clearly faced much better in the past, and this outfit has done well this meet.
Race #5: Selections: 9-1-5
9-Victoria’s Rocket goes turf to dirt on the massive class drop from MDSW to Maiden Claimers this afternoon for trainer Bob Hess, which is a highly productive move for this barn. The late-closing 1-Duke of Orleans is on the improve. The son of the recently passed-away sire Grazen rallied for the place spot in his most recent try at this level on July 24, when finishing in front of several of these. He moves to the rail today and makes his third start of the form cycle. 5-He’s Got Fire has improved Beyer-wise with each subsequent try for conditioner George Papaprodromou. He held a narrow lead at the sixteenth pole before getting run down late in a sharp try when third behind Duke of Orleans. He’d be no surprise this afternoon.
Race #6: Selections: 8-2-4
8-Thirsty Eterna rallied nicely for second at 41-1 on debut July 23, galloping out past the field, and should prove best if able to build off that encouraging try. 2-Vegas Del Oro battled on the lead before surrendering to third when well-backed on debut in the aforementioned July 23, when facing a trio of today’s returning rivals. The dark bay filly is by Gato Del Oro, who won second-time out, and this gal could do the same with any normal second-out progression for trainer George Papaprodromou. 4-Don’t Short Ur Self broke a step slow in the same race as the top pair when well-backed, made a brief rail bid, floated wide, then came back to the rail for the remainder of the race without offering much late run. The daughter of Clubhouse Ride now makes her first start for trainer Mike Puype off the claim. A tough read today, but she did work well prior to her debut.
Race #7: Selections: 2-1-5
The lightly raced 2-Winning Patriot (by Om) has never tried dirt, but returns for new trainer Jeff Mullins off the eight-month layoff and is certainly worked well enough over the Del Mar main track to indicate he’s ready to fire off the bench for an excellent layoff barn. The gelding has good positional speed and a cozy inside draw. A winner of two of his last three starts, 1-Fight Back makes his second start off the Andy Mathis claim, for a barn looking to break its 0-for-16 skid for the meet as of this writing. This outfit is a solid 4-for-7 (57%) with a $2.86 ROI with second-off the claim route runners the past four years. 5-Majestic Palisades never gave up when put in a tight spot and battled on gamely to secure the show spot in last. The hard-hitting gelding usually finds a way to hit the ticket.
Race #8: Selections: 3-5-9
3-Saariselka (GB) should benefit by moving inside this afternoon for trainer Carla Gaines after getting caught wide chasing a spirited early quarter in her most recent try on July 23, when facing a trio of today’s returning rivals. The 4-year-old filly tired to fifth, but wasn’t beaten all that badly, and she’s come back to work a sharp four furlongs on Aug. 13. 5-Green Zone grabbed the lead in the deep stretch before getting swallowed up by the race winner after nearly posting the 23-1 upset when finishing in front of the top choice in the aforementioned July 23 event. A logical threat right back. A turf winner on debut at Horseshoe Indy, 9-Ziggity Zag returns off the extended break for trainer Brian Lynch for today’s $25k claiming tag. This barn is a sharp 8-for-39 (21%) with a lofty $3.62 ROI with grass-route runners returning off >180 days.
