Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 1-Shemakesmemad (Race 8)
Race #1: Selections: 2-1-3
The top pair have exchanged blows in recent starts. 2-Project Leader is the quickest out of the gate, having proven successful on both the afternoon and evening Los Al courses for trainer Jesus Uranga, and may prove difficult to reel in late. However, 1-Otro Mas loves the afternoon bigger course, as evidenced by his 7-4-1-1 mark, and was a close-up fourth over the evening course when last seen back on July 19 and got the best of Project Leader two back, going this 5 ½-furlong trip. The gelding worked a sharp bullet four furlongs on Sept. 3. The other Uranga-trained gelding, 3-No More Ding Dongs, has finished first or second in his last four starts and has run well in all three tries over the afternoon layout.
Race #2: Selections: 7-3-1
7-Johnlino has been trounced by double digits in his last three starts for conditioner Marcia Stortz, but returns to the site of his 8 ½-length maiden-breaking score back in June, and could sit a favorable pressing journey this afternoon with today’s outside draw. 3-Stagger Lee shortens back up to a sprint on the class drop for Miyadi. Improvement likely with the cutback in distance and class relief. 1-Noble Minded has flashed speed and tired in his last two one-mile efforts at Del Mar and now shortens back up to six panels. The 4-year-old colt can hold on for at least a part of this today.
Race #3: Selections: 6-3-2
6-Dats Ms. Blame has won two of her last three starts for Team O’Neill, including a nice score 10 days ago after stumbling at the gate, and a runaway maiden win over this course three back. A logical threat right back. 3-Pretty Cecy was a sharp wide closing second at Del Mar when last seen back on Aug. 16 and ran well in her lone try over this course on July 3. The filly now goes first off the Thomas Ruby claim on the stretch out. The lightly raced 2-Emma G is 2-for-2 over this course, scoring at 11-1 and 23-1. The 3-year-old filly ran a better-than-looks fourth in last on July 26 when stumbling at the break, and finishing up a wide fourth.
Race #4: Selections: 3-6-1
The lightly raced improving 3-Factor P steps up in class off her maiden-breaking score on Aug. 7 and career-best Beyer while still offering plenty of upside for conditioner Antonio Garcia. 6-Bessie Coleman had a wide, tough trip from an outside, tricky post in her latest turf sprint just six days ago but finds a much more appropriate spot here today for a barn that’s had success with the quick turnaround. 1-Christa McAuliffe broke slowly in her last turf dash before slugging along to finish sixth but ran well in her three previous main track sprint starts and can rebound this afternoon with a better break.
Race #5: Selections: 6-2-1
6-Treximo is drawn outside of the other speed, Cimarron Strip, after finishing behind that filly on July 25, but the cut back to five furlongs might help this gal find her way to the winner’s circle in start number six. 2-Cimarron Strip was caught 4-wide battling for the front end before surrendering and finishing last. Her effort two back, off the six-month layoff, was much better when nearly going gate-to-wire at 30-1. A potential rebound candidate today, third try off the bench. Beaten by double digits in both starts, 1-Golden Two Step hasn’t been out since last August but drops in for a bottom-level tag with Lasix off the extended break for Team O’Neill. The Goldencents filly hasn’t had the steadiest and most consistent work tab, however.
Race #6: Selections: 5-1-3
5-Sacred Sound ran poorly in her lone local try over this course on debut, but that was over 14 months ago for trainer Peter Miller. The 4-year-old daughter of Om has improved significantly since then, with some solid turf tries at Del Mar and Santa Anita and a drops in for a first-time tag today. 1-Mustang Knicky was a much-improved second when dropped to this level on Aug. 28 for Knapp and is a logical fit right back if she can transfer that form over this course. The Ryan Hanson-trained 3-Adia has never tried dirt but drops in for a first-time tag this afternoon while making her second try off the seven-month layoff and can improve with the class relief and surface switch.
Race #7: Selections: 5-4-1
The speedy 5-Dustem Too exits a sharp runner-up at this level at Del Mar on Aug. 23 and sports the field’s best last-out main track Beyer (66). The Yakteen-trained gal figures for another favorable upfront pressing trip today. 4-Shady Stripes collapsed, pressing the leaders in last when sent off as the public’s choice and now goes out first off the Peter Miller claim. If this daughter of Smiling Tiger can run back to her efforts two and three back she’s a major player in here. 1-Dragon Kat goes turf to dirt and drops from $22.5k claimers to today’s $12,500 level after flashing solid early zip and tiring in her last pair of grass tries. She was a gate-to-wire maiden winner over this course three back.
Race #8: Selections: 1-4-5
Blinkers on 1-Shemakesmemad has speed and the rail while making her second try at today’s $50k maiden claiming level. The gray daughter of Liam’s Map figures to be hustled along from the fence and gets in light. 4-Heavenly Prayer goes turf to dirt in start number two after breaking slowly in her Aug. 29 unveiling and finishing up a wide closing seventh. The juvenile filly drops in for a tag in start number two and can move forward this afternoon. 5-Thirsty Eterna has run back-to-back seconds in both starts for conditioner Rolando Quinonez at this level and might be ready for a career-best try in start number three.
