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Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner

BEST BET: 3-Honey’s Choice (Race 3)

Race #1: Selections: 3-2-7

3-Medici showed much-improved early zip in start number two on the stretch-out and switch to grass for Mandella when finishing second over this course on Sept. 6. The Into Mischief colt removes the blinkers today and will prove tough to reel in late. 2-Luck Lucky (Ire) makes his first stateside try for D’Amato, who traditionally does well with these types of imports. The juvenile gelding finished fourth of 15 in his July 17 unveiling at Leopardstown, and has trained steadily at Santa Anita in recent weeks. He attracts Prat this afternoon off the mini-freshening. 7-Mighty Toro finished an even fourth in his Oct. 12 debut and now stretches out for start number two. This barn has strong stats with its second-time turf runners. Improvement likely.

Race #2: Selections: 2-6-3

2-Western Freedom takes a substantial class plunge today for conditioner Brian Koriner, while making his third start of the form cycle. The 3-year-old colt posted a (78) Beyer when winning at today’s 5 ½-furlong trip back in May. A similar effort today would make him tough to beat. 6-Far Western slashes his claiming tag in half and exits a career-best Beyer (73) just two weeks ago. This gelding is another entrant making his third start off the bench. 3-Run Abboudy Run steps up in class but has good early zip and is in top form, having won two straight under the Los Al lights.

Race #3: Selections: 3-7-8

3-Honey’s Choice rallied strongly to get the place spot after getting shuffled back in start number two on Oct. 4 and galloped out strongly. The D’Amato-trained juvenile figures to be a handful with another progressive move forward and a favorable post draw. 7-Raging Inferno (by multiple G1 winner Raging Bull) debuts for trainer Dan Blacker off a steady work tab, which includes some stamina drills. The MyRacehorse-owned juvenile colt is likely to come out running with Hernandez signed on. 8-Green Screen goes two sprints to a route today for trainer Graham Motion while making the all-important third career try. The Oscar Performance colt should relish the stretch out.

Race #4: Selections: 3-1-5

The traditional $2 Pick Six returns to Del Mar this autumn meet and begins here in race four. The first-time gelded 3-Mr. Machupicchu is 1-for-20 but shortens up to 5 ½ furlongs this afternoon and figures to take these as far as he can on the front end. 1-One Smokin Dude is hampered by the rail draw once again, but finished a good second in his first start off the 10-month layoff on Oct. 4 and figures to move forward second off the bench. The 3-year-old gelding sports the field’s best last-out Beyer, which adds to the appeal. 5-Magic Connection goes turf to dirt this afternoon and has done his best running over the main track for conditioner Hector Palma.

Race #5: Selections: 8-1-2

The speedy 8-Delightful Laura adds blinkers today, exiting a sharp runner-up effort over this course on Sept. 6 and sports the field’s best last-out grass Beyer (88). Despite the challenging draw, she is quick enough to out-break this field and settle into a good rhythm on the front end. Come and catch her. 1-Angelic Appeal (Ire) makes his U.S. debut off a 778-day layoff for D’Amato, but lures Prat off the long hiatus and races with Lasix today. This jockey-trainer combo is 5 for 8 (63%) with a $3.43 ROI with turf runners returning off >180 Days at Del Mar. 2-Esmeray (Ire) finally gets a favorable inside draw and has run competitive figures for this class level. The 5-year-old mare owns the strongest late pace figures in this field and figures to be making headway in the deep stretch.

Race #6: Selections: 2-5-3

2-Ante Up Tony debuts for trainer Kelly Balnum off a steady work tab. She’s by Om, who gets an above-average 19% with his 3-year-old & up debuting firsters, and this gal doesn’t meet any world-beaters in this weak $50 maiden claiming lineup. Why not try a new face? Despite a below-average speed figure, 5-West Fresno flashed solid early zip in her Sept. 26 unveiling for trainer Jeff Bonde before tiring to finish fifth (beaten less than three lengths) and figures to be much tighter in career start number two. The late-running 3-Amelia’s Echo has hit the board in half of her career tries for D’Amato and sports the field’s best last-out dirt Beyer (60).

Race #7: Selections: 7-6-4

Recent maiden winner 7-Mescalero steps up to stakes competition off an impressive debut win for conditioner Richard Mandella, and this son of Into Mischief is bred to cherish the extra real estate. The 3-year-old gelding could post the mild upset with a potential gate-to-wire score. The lightly raced 6-Friendly Confines was a sharp allowance winner with a lofty (87) Beyer off the six-month layoff for trainer Richard Baltas and should prove tough to overhaul with a move forward, second off the bench. Prat is back for the return mount. 4-Geometry should appreciate the return to fast footing and Del Mar after an even fourth at Delaware over the soft going in the Kent S. last month. The gelding shortens back up to a mile today, where he was a winner three back.

Race #8: Selections: 4-9-7

4-Rocky Colavito is by G1 winner Halladay, who is 0-for-11 with debut runners as of this writing, according to DRF Formulator sire stats. This 2-year-old gelding has worked swiftly for trainer Phil D’Amato, including back-to-back bullets at Los Al and lures Hernandez at first asking, who is 3-for-6 (50%) with a $3.63 ROI the past four years with this barn’s firsters. First-time gelded 9-Mystic Moses goes turf to dirt this afternoon for trainer Steve Miyadi, and both of his tries over this dirt course have been solid. 7-Tommy Norris (by Stanford) is one of the most experienced runners in the field and is a logical fit off his last pair of ITM sprint finishes, where he posted a 60 and 61 dirt Beyer.

Race #9: Selections 1-4-3

1-Ribbons has speed and the rail draw this afternoon for conditioner Leonard Powell and exits a tough trip with a subpar finish on Sept. 28 when banged around and caught very wide when facing several of these. The sophomore filly is a strong gate-to-wire threat today in the Thursday pre-BC nightcap. The stakes-winning 4-Take Another Card returns off a seven-month freshening for trainer Simon Callaghan. This daughter of I’ll Have Another has two wins and two thirds from four career tries and has been training steadily over the SA synthetic track for today’s return to action. The stakes-placed 3-Ambaya ships east, having hit the board in all three career tries for trainer Jonathan Thomas, and should appreciate the return to a firm turf course.