Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 3-The Big Cheeseola (Race 1)
Race #1: Selections: 3-4-2
3-The Big Cheeseola exits a game score on Aug. 27 and now goes first off the claim for conditioner Sean Williams, who is a solid 4-for-17 (24%) with dirt sprint newly acquired purchases. The 7-time winning 6-year-old gelding has run well over this course throughout his career and figures to get another favorable upfront pressing journey. The veteran 8-year-old gelding 4-Alpine Thunder returns off the two-month mini-freshening to a venue where he’s had solid success and lures Kimura off the bench. Turf to dirt 2-Instinct D’Oro is a multiple winner over the track and distance and ran well when last seen here two back.
Race #2: Selections: 3-6-4
I’ll give 3-Charmz Away one more chance to break through in career try number 19 this afternoon, having run a few close-up finishes over the course and landing in what amounts to a weak $50k maiden claiming sprint. 6-Stern Sentence hasn’t been out in 11 months but showed improved speed in start number two and makes an initial try for a new barn. 4-Bad Uncle Ernie finished a wide trip non-factor seventh on debut but is eligible to improve in start number two. This barn is only 1-for-49 with second-time starters the past five years, but that winner did include the most recent winner, Less Please, at Del Mar on Aug. 13.
Race #3: Selections: 1-4-3
1-Tee N Off is a logical win candidate based on his last pair of main track Beyers (69, 68) and is a proven winner over the Los Al afternoon layout. The 4-year-old gelding is reunited with winning pilot Kazushi Kimura. 4-Forza Azzurri exits back-to-back runner-up one-mile efforts at Del Mar on Aug. 1 and 23 for trainer Peter Miller and looks like a good fit, making his first start over the local course. Completely outrun in last, 3-Oobubbakakayo was a 41-1 upset winner with a formidable Beyer over this course two back against better.
Race #4: Selections: 2-6-1
The 6-for-16 2-Gettinby took a bad step and was pulled up in his most recent turf sprint dash at Del Mar Aug. 16. The Sean Williams-trained colt had a three-race win streak coming into that last race and mishap, with some lofty main track Beyers (97,92). He’ll be tough to overhaul if he runs anything close to those figures. A proven winner over this course, 6-Jerry’s Spirit returns off an 11-month layoff for an excellent layoff barn and looks like the main threat to the top choice. Recent claim 1-Central Dispatch has speed and the rail with Kimura and figures to be hustled along for position.
Race #5: Selections: 5-7-1
The Ryan Hanson-trained 5-Stylish Colleen goes two sprints to a route and drops back down to the level where she was runner-up over this course two-back. She’s hardly a slam dunk, however. 7-Just Mendelssohn also stretches out off a wide trip fifth at Del Mar on July 31, and her sire Mendelssohn is a respectable 16% with dirt routers. This filly may take a liking to this course and two turns. 1-Amor Secreto has yet to hit the board in six lifetime tries but drops in for a career-low claiming tag today with speed and the rail and is capable of hanging around a lot longer today against this inferior group.
Race #6: Selections: 4-8-7
4-Bo Diddley steps up in class off the Aug. 23 O’Neill claim, who is 3-for-11 (27%) at Los Al the past five years with new acquisitions. The gray Grazen juvenile was runner-up at this level two-back. 8-Vern Gosdin (by Sir Prancealot) flashed solid early zip on debut Aug. 16 before tiring badly to tenth and last, but now drops in for a tag in start number two and can hold on for a piece of this with the class relief and any normal second-out progression. A beaten favorite runner-up when last seen breaking slowly back in the end of June, 7-The Moe Show adds blinkers and drops in for a tag off the 2 ½-month layoff for conditioner Steve Miyadi.
Race #7: Selections: 7-1-5
The speedy 6-for-16 7-Black Magician has won four of his last six starts for Uranga on both Los Al courses, including a solid 2 ¼-length victory at five furlongs over the afternoon layout when last seen back on June 21. The gelding has trained steadily for today’s return to action. 1-Des Doigts is a logical fit off a sharp win and the field’s best (84) Beyer in last score at Del Mar on Aug. 20. The gelding now goes first off the claim for trainer Ruby Thomas and has run well over this course. His stablemate 5-Dirty Words is also a recent acquisition who has run well in both tries over this racetrack. He was far behind Des Doigts in last but back at the venue where he’d had previous success and is eligible to bounce back this afternoon for his new connections.
Race #8: Selections: 4-1-5
4-Oveta’s Hobby takes a sizable class plunge today for trainer Jose D’Angelo, moving back to dirt and just missed by a nose against $20k claimers going this 5 ½-furlong trip three-back. The 4-year-old daughter of Army Mule should prove too tough for this group in the later stages of the stretch drive. One of two from the Jesus Uranga barn, 1-Rock N Roll Song was a winner over this course at this level three-back with Payeras in the saddle, and figures to leave for position this afternoon with today’s rail draw. 5-Liquid Spirit exits a sharp 1,000-yard win under the lights on Aug. 8 but has been just as effective over the bigger afternoon layout.
Race #9: Selections: 3-6-4
The Baffert-trained 3-Dainey (by Tiz the Law) was a game winner on debut back in late May with a lofty (89) Beyer and has been training sharply since getting back on the work tab in July. 6-Mohaven has finished first or second in seven of nine career tries for Sadler and is an excellent rebound candidate shortening back up to a sprint after a speed-and-fade in the Torrey Pines (G3). 4-Billie Holliday exits back-to-back wins for conditioner Steve Miyadi, the most recent coming off an eight-month layoff, and has improved Beyer-wise in each subsequent try. The lightly raced Grazen filly gets a stiff class test this afternoon.
