HORSE RACING

TODAY AT DEL MAR

By Richard Eng

Post Time 4 p.m.

Race 1 - 1 1/16th miles (turf), Purse $63,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds and up

1 Irish Art - Favorite draws the rail to save all the ground; just missed in last in an improved effort.

7 Cook Inlet - Many close but no cigar finishes on synthetics; tries turf for the first time.

Long Shot - 8 Hy Lime Time

Race 2 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $42,0o00, Claiming $32,000, 3-year-olds and up

4 Cost of Freedom - Red flag drop; key is both John Sadler and Joe Talamo desperately need the victory.

7 Dance With Gable - Small, but significant, class drop can only help; tactical speed to sit a nice trip.

Long Shot - 8 Cardiff Giant

Race 3 - 7 furlongs, Purse $65,000, Optional claiming $25,000, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

5 Diamond Journey - Mike Mitchell has an uncoupled entry, so caveat emptor; like the turn back in distance too.

10 Tenacious Tina - Huge class drop points to an obvious contender; has too much talent to keep stinking up.

Long Shot - 4 Carrie Rose

Race 4 - 6 furlongs, Purse $34,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, 2-year-olds

10 Petak Mountain - Typical green debut, slow early, fast late; like that Garrett Gomez rides back for Tom Proctor.

6 Quality Elusion - Outran his 34/1 odds in SoCal debut; was well meant as a ship and win, fits with these.

Long Shot - 4 Ride Captain

Race 5 - 1 mile (turf), Purse $29,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up

1 Vote of Approval - Favorite has a chance to save important ground throughout; will be grinding late.

5 Hughesy - Tough trip when squished among horses throughout; never had a clear path to accelerate in the lane.

Long Shot - 11 Absolutlypositivly

Race 6 - 1 mile, $100,000 El Cajon, 3-year-olds

5 Uncle Sam - Chased stablemate Coil in last so he can compete; not bad for the Bob Baffert second string.

9 Pride of Silver - Liked his race chasing the older Achak in last; back with his own, he figures to move forward.

Long Shot - 3 Sahara Sky

Race 7 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $24,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up

2 Blue Rock - Did everything but win last time; now is dropped to the bottom where it is now or never.

5 Warren's Baby Walk - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; need not be much.

Long Shot - 3 italian Channel

Best Bet - 1 Irish Art (race 1)

Del Mar Thursday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/4/$39.00; Long Shots, 8/1/$6.40; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Del Mar Totals - 529/116/$798.20; Long Shots, 257/40/$494.00; Best Bets, 30/10/$58.20

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #3 Starformer (7/2) in race 8 at Saratoga. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, #2 Unaccountable ran second at Saratoga paying $4.20 to place and $3.00 to show. Stats - 146/95/$759.20