Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 4-Sea Runner (Race 9)
Race #1: Selections: 6-2-1
6-Danzing Forest is one of a handful exiting the aforementioned August 25 five-furlong Del Mar sprint and returning here and looks to be the quickest from the gate for a chilly barn that’s winless since June 2022. The 3-year-old gelding makes career start number three off two sharp grass sprint efforts to begin his career. 2-Desert Rocket ran above Beyer par for this level when finishing in front of several of these with a sharp runner-up late-closing effort on August 25. The son of Grazen is the one to beat in here of an improving Beyer pattern and a big last-out effort. 1-Afternoon Nap was off slowly in a well-backed debut, matching up against the top pair and finishing an even fourth. He’s eligible to improve off that try for conditioner Carla Gaines but must negotiate the rail draw.
Race #2: Selections: 1-3-4
A popular commodity at the claiming box 1-Keen to Go now makes his first start for trainer Craig Dollase, who clicks close to 30% with new barn acquisitions. The 4-year-old gelding finished a good second at this same level in the last and was a 13-length victor against softer two-back. 3-Joint Venture flashed speed and tired in his first Southern California start on Sept. 5 and is eligible to move forward off that try for D’Amato. The gelding has returned to work three times since that last effort and figures to be on or close to the lead again this afternoon. 4-Donner Lake showed good gate speed off the 11-month layoff for conditioner Michael McCarthy before packing it in and will likely be much tighter this trip with Hernandez back aboard.
Race #3: Selections: 3-7-2
3-Terry’s Boy steps up in class off a career-best Beyer and win on August 29 and now stretches out an additional furlong for trainer Jeff Mullins. The 7-year-old gelding could get a similar and favorable off-the-pace tracking trip. 7-Mas Rapido (GB) has been freshened off the July 24 purchase by trainer George Papaprodromou, and this barn has good stats with first-off-the-claim turf runners. He’s another who would benefit from a contested early pace. 2-Irish Corn has speed from the rail and was aided by the scratch of another potential frontrunner, Mambo On Three.
Race #4: Selections: 6-4-3
The $2 Pick Six begins here, and there’s an $83k carryover today. 6-Legal Fiction is 2 for 2 to start her career for Team O’Neill with wins at Fresno and Santa Rosa by a combined eight lengths. She ships to Southern California looking to remain undefeated, sporting the field’s best last-out Beyer (63). 4-Lil’ Bit Bossy powered away to a 15-length runaway score on August 29, having shown good form in three of four career tries for conditioner Steve Miyadi. 3-We The Free (by G1 winner Bodexpress) overcame adversity to win the Sept. 2 debut despite stumbling at the start and figures to be a handful with any normal second-out progression.
Race #5: Selections: 3-7-10
3-Prince Dolce hasn’t shown much in a pair of dirt sprints at Del Mar but switches to turf today in start number three for trainer Carla Gaines and is eligible to show drastic improvement. The juvenile gelding’s sire, Sir Prancealot (Ire), gets 20% with turf sprint starters and Rispoli sticks here. 7-Cullen J finished an even fourth in his August 23 turf debut and has returned to work three times since that unveiling, including a sharp-looking main track drill in :59.4 on Sept. 22. Blinkers on 10-Whiskyginandbrandy goes dirt to turf for trainer Steve Knapp and figures to work out a decent trip with good tactical early zip and outside post.
Race #6: Selections: 2-4-5
2-Bowtie Boys deserves another chance at this bottom $20k Maiden Claiming level after finishing a good third off a wide trip and pre-race break-through of the gate. The 3-year-old gelding by Frosted goes two sprints to a route this afternoon, making the third start of the form cycle for conditioner Tim Yakteen. 4-Supreme Coast finished a much-improved second when dropped to this reduced level on August 15, sporting the field’s best last-out Beyer (66). A beaten favorite in the last pair, 5-Candy’s Wildcat is slowly rounding into form off nearly a two-year hiatus for trainer Bob Hess. The 4-year-old gelding goes two sprints to a route today and has the pedigree to suggest that two turns are within his wheelhouse.
Race #7: Selections 8-1-6
8-Kitty Kitana (GB) was claimed for $100k by John Sadler off a recent fourth-place route finish on August 11 and now shortens back up to the downhill layout where she’s run well. Hernandez climbs back aboard for top connections. The ultra-consistent 1-Just Nails has hit the board in 8 of 11 career tries for Team O’Neill and was runner-up in both downhill turf efforts. Her recent “best of 59” bullet main track five-furlong drill in :46.4 on Sept. 29 indicates she remains razor sharp. 6-Tom’s Regret has done most of his running on dirt but finished a game second in the G3 Senorita when last trying the downhill course last May and is eligible to bounce back today for conditioner Steve Miyadi with the surface switch.
Race #8: Selections: 8-7-1
This is a tricky optional $50k claiming dirt route with four entrants coming off recent Maiden victories. 8-Saltwater Cowboy broke through when switched over to the dirt on Sept. 1 with a solid three-length score for trainer Doug O’Neill, earning a strong (80) Beyer figure, and should get a live race flow to close into again this afternoon from a stalking position. 7-Jerry’s Spirit tries two turns for the first time today, exiting a seven-length runaway 5 ½-furlong win on Sept. 13 at Los Al in career start number two when dropped in for a tag. He’s by multiple G1 winner Ghostzapper, who gets a solid 18% with dirt route offspring. 1-Navy Man makes second start off the nine-month layoff for trainer Michael Mccarthy after not showing much in his July 20 comeback effort. The 4-year-old gelding has continued to train well in his a.m. drills and is eligible to move forward today.
Race #9: Selections: 4-2-5
4-Sea Runner ran a good third despite a wide trip when starting from a tough outside post on Sept. 7 in the Del Mar Fillies Turf Stakes and now drops back down to face Maidens again in career start number three. This daughter of Gun Runner should work out a much better journey today with Rispoli back aboard, and she’s the Day’s Best Best to close out the Friday 9-race card. An even money beaten favorite in her first start on American soil 2-Aleramo (Ire) is eligible to improve in her second stateside start for McCarthy. She finished second at 50-1 in an 18-horse field in Ireland in the June 14 debut, indicating there’s some talent here. The speedy 5-Lee’s Baby Girl exits back-to-back runner-up finishes on dirt and turf and figures to try and bottom out this field for Team O’Neill. Her (75) turf Beyer earned two-back is five points above par for this class level.
