Horse Racing: Today at Del Mar, July 30
July 29, 2014 - 7:55 pm
Post Time 2 p.m.
Race 1 - 1 3/8th miles (turf, rail at 18 feet), Purse $80,000, Optional claiming $62,500, 3-year-olds and up
7 Big John B - Ran well in victory as a ship and win horse last time; this is supposed to be a tougher group, so we’ll see.
4 Tigah - Claimed by Barry Abrams off a win and wheeled right back; too many trainers avoid running sharp horses on short rest.
Long Shot - 5 Stoney Fleece
Race 2 - 1 mile, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
6 Live for Now - Ran well as a maiden in the grade 2 Summer Oaks; may get overbet in this spot, but a similar race is good enough.
1 West Riding - FTS from the Bob Baffert barn, need I say more; this filly is a Tapit who is all the rage as a top stallion.
Long Shot - 4 Southern Sunshine
Race 3 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 18 feet), Purse $43,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 3-year-olds and up
6 Maxx the Giant - Regressed last time after a solid second two races ago; is 1-for-17 wins lifetime on grass, so caveat emptor.
9 Romar Success - Both turf races were sprints down the hillside turf course; showed strong late kick, now is stretching out in distance.
Long Shot - 4 Number Five
Race 4 - 7 furlongs, Purse $62,000, Claiming $50,000, 3-year-olds
2 Puppy Manners - If you read and follow my handicapping, you know I like cut backs; combined with a class drop, will be a handful.
4 Rocked Twice - Another cut back off a winning effort at Santa Anita Park; it’ll be John Sadler versus Jerry Hollendorfer.
Long Shot - 1 Jedi Mind Trick
Race 5 - 1 mile, Purse $28,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
5 Sheza Dish - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; facing the slowest group of his life.
6 Nero’s Pleasure - Tepid chalk in a race fraught with danger; sliding down the maiden claiming ladder to this newest low level.
Long Shot - 7 Up the Alley
Race 6 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 18 feet), Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds
10 Bollente - FTS from the powerful Mark Casse barn; he has an uncoupled entry in here so caveat emptor.
2 Seve’s Road - Ran evenly in debut at Los Alamitos; suxpect will improve with experience for Doug O’Neill.
Long Shot - 6 Mr. Chase
Race 7 - 5 1/2 furlongs, $100,000 Graduation, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds
7 Wake Up Nick - Figures to be one of the shortest priced horses on the program; was flattered when Story Tell won next time out.
1 Atta’ Boy Woody - Not sure what he beat in debut, but did it easily enough; speed and the rail has been good on the main track.
Long Shot - 4 Global Magician
Race 8 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $25,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up
6 Ron’s Boy - Sliding down the maiden claiming ladder to this bottom rung; need not be much to put away this group.
1 Eleven Zip - Speed and the rail will be his road to victory; Tyler Baze likes to play catch me if you can.
Long Shot - 13 Storm the Heavens
Best Bet - 2 Puppy Manners (race 4)
Del Mar Sunday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 20/7/$50.20; Long Shots, 9/1/$9.40; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Del Mar Totals - 167/34/$258.40; Long Shots, 82/5/$53.80; Best Bets, 8/1/$6.60
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #3 Rock Me Mama (5/2) in race 4 at Saratoga. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Eurokay by Me ran out at Saratoga. Stats - 115/69/$660.00; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick