Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 3-Sei Bella (Race 8)
Race #1: Selections: 4-3-5
The multiple graded stakes-placed 4-Howin is a 3-year-old facing older horses but exits a sharp runner-up effort in the G3 Summertime Oaks behind stablemate Cash Call, adds Lasix today, and makes her second start off the bench. The daughter of Gun Runner looms tough in the Sunday opener if she can run back to that (88) Beyer. 3-Issa Court finished an even fifth on grass when returning off an 11-month layoff on June 6 and is eligible to move forward off that effort for the lucrative veteran jockey-trainer combo of Desormeaux and Hess. This 7-year-old mare has a win and a second-place finish over the local footing, and he stretches out to his preferred one-mile trip. 5-Nothing Is Forever is a solid 5-2-1-1 over today’s one-mile distance and projects to get a live race flow to help utilize his strong late kick.
Race #2: Selections: 4-3-1
The Peter Miller-trained 4-Sogno Di Vino finished a wide, close-up fifth (beaten less than a length) in his most recent grass try on May 26 and should find going two turns on dirt quite favorably. His stablemate, 3-Proud Racer, is a logical fit. He goes first off the claim after posting the Beyer par (69) in his last three consecutive races. The 4-year-old gelding steps back up to face Maiden Special Weight types this afternoon and has hit the board in 4 of 5 tries. 1-Fix It Quick has finished fourth in all four career efforts thus far for trainer Mike Puype, and the colt should relish stretching out on dirt.
Race #3: Selections: 3-7-4
3-Ace Ace Baby goes turf to dirt for trainer Jeff Mullins on the class drop and shortens back up to her preferred 5 ½ furlong trip, where she is 2-2-1 from five tries. This 4-year-old filly broke her maiden over this course. 7-Miracle Ball has not been seen in roughly nine months when going gate-to-wire to break her maiden over this racetrack last September. She returns for a new barn off a spirited work tab at San Luis Rey and should come off the bench firing. 4-Annie’s Joy has a one-paced, grinding forward running style that gives her a good chance of filling out the vertical exotics.
Race #4: Selections: 7-2-5
7-Malibu Rocks drops in for a career-low claiming tag today off back-to-back subpar efforts but fits well against this inferior group, having posted the fastest two-turn main track Beyers in the field. The 4-year-old gelding is reunited with the hot hand of jockey Kyle Frey. 2-Navy Jack clipped heels and unseated his rider in the upper stretch in his most recent turf sprint try on May 23 when flashing early speed, and seems no worse for wear, having worked three times since that mishap. He plunges again in class and makes his first start on dirt. 5-Big Juanito was trounced by double digits in his last two efforts after showing early speed and fading badly in both starts. He was eased and walked off the course in his most recent try on May 26 when battling wide for the lead, and now goes first off the claim for conditioner George Papaprodromou. This barn has a strong 4 for 9 (44%) win clip with a $2.73 ROI with their new acquisitions at Los Al the past three years.
Race #5: Selections: 3-7-6
3-Mystic Moses debuts out of the Steve Miyadi barn, boasting a solid 4 for 17 (24%) with a $4.01 ROI the past five years with first-time starters at Los Al. The son of multiple Grade 1 winner Stay Thirsty drilled an encouraging four furlongs in :47 flat on June 23, indicating his readiness. 7-Knowhere is by Cat Burglar, who gets an average 15% with his juvenile debuting prodigy. This 2-year-old has trained sharply over the Los Al footing in the a.m. for a barn that is capable of firing with firsters and is nicely drawn outside. The Ed Freeman-trained 6-What Has Been is by multiple Grade 1 winner I’ll Have Another and has worked swiftly over at San Luis Rey in preparation for this afternoon’s unveiling. This barn is only 2 for 44 (5%) with firsters the past five years, however.
Race #6: Selections: 7-5-2
Class dropping 7-Impractical Diva goes turf to dirt on the cutback in distance for trainer Michael McCarthy and has trained well over the SA main track off the two-month mini-freshening. She is by Practical Joke (18% with dirt sprinters). The speedy 5-Charmed Dream steps up to face winners off a solid frontrunning maiden-breaking score just 9 days ago. The 3-year-old filly goes out for a new barn today, exiting a career-best Beyer (53) and retains Frey. 2-Maniae takes a sizable class drop this afternoon, exiting a last-place finish in a starter allowance on May 23 when flashing speed and tiring. Two-back, however, she was a good second against similar company, earning Beyer par for this class level.
Race #7: Selections: 1-8-7
1-Mirinda has good speed from today’s rail draw and is likely to be hustled along by aggressive gate pilot Edwin Maldonado. The 4-year-old daughter of Mitole is 1 for 1 over this course and returns off a two-month freshening off a sharp work tab. She fired a “best of 83” four-furlong bullet in :47 flat on June 21 and may be tough to reel in late. 8-Sugar Hi finished a solid second off an eight-month layoff on May 30 and is eligible to move forward off that effort for trainer Phil D’Amato. The 4-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy sports the field’s best last-out main track Beyer (81). 7-Over Attracted is in super sharp form, having won two straight turf sprint tries for conditioner Leonard Powell. This 8-year-old mare has run well over this dirt course in the past
Race #8: Selections 3-6-1
3-Sei Bella goes turf to dirt and drops in for a first-time tag today for trainer Sean McCarthy. This 3-year-old filly by Om has run well enough against much stiffer competition on the green and is bred to successfully handle dirt sprints, especially on the dam side. 6-Sexy Blue is a logical fit based on her recent runner-up finish and (59) main track Beyer against this level on June 7. She has speed and gets in light again. 1-Empress of Grace is slowly improving for Knapp, exiting a third-place effort against similar when dropped to this level on June 7. She makes her third start of the form cycle this afternoon.
