Horse Racing: Today at Del Mar, July 17

Race 1 – 5 furlongs, Purse $44,000, Maiden claiming $80,000, 2-year-olds

3 Last One Standing – Would not be surprised if this Peter Miller FTS fires; a key will be the early wagering, if he opens less than his 4/1 odds look out.

2 Navy Hymn – Of the ones with racing experience, he looks best; taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming.

Long Shot – 7 D. Shifflett

Race 2 – 6 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Claiming $8,000, 3-year-olds and up

5 Peacenik – Had his claim voided last out so he was returned to Tim Yakteen barn; has been popular in the claim box and popular at this modest class level.

2 No Contingency – Won last out in a gutsy, gritty performance; the key will be how much did that take out of him, cheap horses are seldom consistent.

Long Shot – 8 Half Dome Dude

Race 3 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up

9 Miltee – Tries dirt for the first time as well as an enormous drop in class; owners and trainers love to win at Del Mar, sometimes off a big class drop.

5 Jens de Ville – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; need not be much to compete in a field full of underachievers.

Long Shot – 8 Ghost of Navigator

Race 4 – 5 furlongs, Purse $70,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds

7 Captain Akers – Has been nipped twice in both career starts; either a sign of a potential breakthrough or a nibbler tendency.

2 Getoffmyback – Ran well in debut behind the aforementioned Captain Akers; Mark Casse babies will improve with experience so expect a step forward.

Long Shot – 1 Tengas Ransom

Race 5 – 5 furlongs (turf), Purse $75,000, Optional claiming $62,500, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

7 Xoxo – Tiny edge in a very difficult turf sprint heat; like her back class as Peter Miller already has sprinted her in two stakes races.

9 Windy Forecast – Sharp winner of the Pleasanton Oaks last time out; Gary Stevens takes over, he’ll have to decide to send hard or sit off of Xoxo.

Long Shot – 2 Not too Shiny

Race 6 – 6 furlongs, Purse $78,000, Allowance, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

5 Uzziel – Edge in a very competitive sprint; if you’ve read my comments over the years, you know how much I like cutback horses like this.

2 Wasted at Midnight – Consistent sort ran OK in stakes debut last time out; has been carefully managed by Richard Mandella, now ready to face tougher.

Long Shot – 1 Scherzinger

Race 7 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $72,000, Optional claiming $80,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

10 Causeway Carolyn – Among many who just graduated last time out; I expect Carla Gaines to unleash a few horses pointed for this Del Mar meet.

7 Zipessa – Interesting that Rafael Bejarano has opted to ride first call for Michael Stidham; suspect they did business when the jockey was Kentucky based.

Long Shot – 5 Sweet

Race 8 – 6 furlongs, Purse $70,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

2 Urloveneverfails – Ran great in debut despite losing a close call; the key for me is she finished more than 6-lengths in front of the third horse.

11 Melinda’s Girl – Your edge over me is seeing the tote action on the many FTS in the race; this one has worked bullets at Golden Gate for a Del Mar debut.

Long Shot – 8 Hekawi

Best Bet – 9 Miltee (race 3)

Del Mar Thursday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 20/4/$42.00; Long Shots, 10/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Del Mar Totals – 20/4/$42.00; Long Shots, 10/0/$0; Best Bets, 1/0/$0

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #9 Fantastic Eyes (8/1) in race 5 at Belmont Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, Piccolo Flats was scratched at Belmont Park. Stats – 97/67/$517.40; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick