Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 6-Gold Phoenix (Race 9)
Race #1: Selections: 4-10-12
The Michael McCarthy-trained 4-Com On Om just missed in a strong grass debut (70 Beyer) on May 17 at 10-1, getting the best of a pair of today’s returning rivals, and should be a handful in start number two with any normal forward progression. 10-Marla Hooch crossed the finish line first but was DQ’d to second two-back and exits a recent third for the D’Amato barn. This daughter of Om makes the third try of the form cycle today. 12-Promises of Gold (by Goldencents) has trained smartly for Richard Baltas for today’s unveiling and lures Rosario.
Race #2: Selections: 6-4-1
A pair of recent runner-up tries at this level make 6-Thirty Two Chunk the one to overhaul this afternoon for trainer Mark Glatt. The 4-year-old gelded son of More Than Ready holds a double Beyer advantage over the rest of this field. 4-Charlie Foxtrot was overmatched in his recent starter allowance try, which was nine months ago, but drops back to the level where he was competitive two-back and has fired fresh in the past. Recent maiden-claiming winner 1-ImA Track Star has speed from the rail and looks well-spotted for his first crack against winners.
Race #3: Selections: 1-7-6
The Team O’Neill 1-Nylie (by Nyquist) was no match for the race winner but was a good second on debut May 31, flashing solid speed, and should only move forward off that try today, with Fresu getting the return mount. 7-Her Names Charlie debuts for the Ryan Hanson barn off some encouraging works. She’s by Grade 1 winner Golden Pal, who is a strong 4-for-14 (28%) with his juvenile-debuting prodigy. 6-Weekend Vibes is by Highly Motivated, who has yet to drop a winner, but this filly has trained well in the a.m. and lures Rosario. This barn, however, is only 2-for-61 (3%) with grass firsters the past five years.
Race #4: Selections: 2-4-1
2-Wizard of Westwood has done a majority of his running on turf but has had good success on dirt when trying it (two wins from three tries), and the gelding takes a huge class drop today from $40k claimers down to today’s $10,000 level. A sharp four-furlong drill over at San Luis Rey since that last grass sprint run adds to the appeal, and he simply lays over this field if right. 4-One Smokin Dude got up at the wire for the narrowest of victories on May 25, earning the field’s best last-out dirt Beyer (77). This gelding has strung wins together in the past and will be tough with a similar effort. The Steve Knapp-trained 1-Zombo Bombo hasn’t been out in nearly six months but has had past success at this level and at this venue, with good positional speed from the rail.
Race #5: Selections: 5-6-2
The ultra-consistent 5-Can’t Sleep is back for her 2026 campaign for trainer Carla Gaines off a 10-month freshening and was a sharp winner with a lofty (86) turf Beyer at Del Mar prior to hitting the sidelines. This mare has never been off the board in six lifetime starts (6-3-1-2) and has trained with a purpose. 6-Kuwaitya (GB) is an interesting newcomer making her first start in the D’Amato barn off a seven-month layoff. The 4-year-old was a winner on her Stateside debut for trainer Riley Mott at Keeneland last fall but was a tad disappointing in her next two starts against winners. She’s trained well for her first start in Southern California and lures Rosario off a decent work tab. 2-Visually got the best of several of these with a rallying third on May 15, which was this mare’s first start off a seven-month freshening. Improvement is likely second off the bench.
Race #6: Selections: 5-1-9
A beaten favorite in the last pair, 5-Conquest Sue is the horse to beat again today, exiting a field’s best (59) main track Beyer for trainer Peter Eurton. This looks like the right spot for her to break through in career try number five. 1-Dad’s Bad Bunny drops again after surrendering clear leads in her last pair of starts but gets in light again with bug boy and figures to be hustled along from the fence. 9-Shady Stripes has been racking up checks with her underneath finishes against far better and is likely to improve on the class plunge.
Race #7: Selections: 9-11-2
9-Koekkoek (GB) finished second in both Stateside route tries for D’Amato before going on the sidelines in late March but is back off the mini-freshening with a steady and encouraging work tab and is likely to come out firing. He’s by Pinatubo, who was a multiple Grade 1 winner at seven furlongs. The speedy 11-Legal Heir has had several chances and close-up finishes without a win, but shortens up to six furlongs today, second off the bench, and may finally hang on for the well-deserved maiden score. 2-Monumental adds blinkers for the all-important third career try for Baltas while showing ability in both local tries. The sophomore colt is likely to be sent away aggressively with Maldonado with the inside draw.
Race #8: Selections: 5-7-10
5-Pocket Listing (by Listing) fired a “best of 84” four furlongs in :46.1 for Team O’Neill in his last work prior to today’s unveiling and should come out running at first-asking. 7-Bo Diddley is one of two firsters from the Steve Miyadi barn. This Grazen colt hasn’t exactly torn up the track in his morning drills, but this jockey-trainer combo has had modest success with debut runners from a small sample, and he may have a chance today in this suspect field. 10-Johnny’s Cap is slowly improving for trainer Jorge Periban and removes the blinkers today for the all-important third start. The juvenile colt has shown enough positional speed to make a decent trip from today’s outside draw.
Race #9: Selections: 6-4-10
6-Gold Phoenix (Ire) had all kinds of late-traffic issues in the May 2 Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill, when looking to have plenty of run in reserve. The hard-hitting, 11-time winner, 8-year-old gelding returns to Southern California in this softer spot and should return to his winning ways for the D’Amato barn. 4-American Hope has a good burst of late foot and ran well to run down rivals at 12-1 on May 1, posting a strong and competitive (88) Beyer. The American Pharoah 5-year-old makes the third start of the form cycle today and can improve further. 10-Poor Connection steps up in class today but has enough speed to secure a nice forward position despite the outside draw and exits a career-best Beyer.
Race #10: Selections: 4-3-1
Not the strongest Maiden Special Weight main-track sprint ever assembled, and I’ll use all three from the May 24 event. 4-Poppi’s Charlie flashed speed before tiring to fourth when dismissed at 22-1 against a pair of colts who return here, but likely got a lot out of that race and should prove tough in start number two if able to clear this field as expected. Blinkers off, 3-King Kameha is the horse to beat, making the all-important third career start for trainer Steve Knapp and posting the field’s best last-out main-track Beyer (59). 1-Scam Alert was no match for the race winner Early Encore but nosed out King Kameha for the place spot in last and is eligible to move forward in start number two.
Race #11: Selections: 9-8-3
The D’Amato-trained 9-Canto Della Terra (Ire) was a sharp maiden winner with a lofty (88) grass Beyer in her lone start of 2025 and has trained well for the first start of this campaign for an excellent layoff barn. 8-Yoga Master makes the all-important third start off the form cycle today, off an improving Beyer pattern, and figures to be making up a ton of ground late. A multiple winner over the track and distance, 3-Mars Magic drops in class and shortens back to a sprint where she’s done her best running.
Race #12: Selections: 6-7-1-5
A full field of colts and geldings sprint six furlongs in this very competitive $50k optional claimer to close out the Sunday program.
6-Private Gem has never been off the board in six lifetime starts, proving to be equally effective on dirt and turf for trainer Mark Glatt. The Lookin At Lucky 5-year-old has won three of his last four starts, moves back to the turf today, and should be much tighter second start back off the one-year hiatus. 7-Golden Ale steps up in class off a sharp win back in mid-April, when he ran par (88) for this level, and looks fast enough to clear this field early on. 1-Mescalero hasn’t been out in six months for Mandella but has trained like he’s ready to fire off the bench (with back-to-back five-furlong synthetic-track bullets), and the gelding has likely improved off his 3-year-old campaign. 5-Rogue Legend (GB) is back off a seven-month break, while making his initial try for the D’Amato barn, off a spirited work tab. The colt adds Lasix today and looms a big threat if he’s gotten away from his troubled starts, which he’s shown in all three Stateside tries.
