Today at Del Mar: Aug. 2, 2014

TODAY AT DEL MAR by Richard Eng

Post Time 2 p.m.

Race 1 - 5 furlongs, Purse $80,000, Optional claiming $62,500, 3-year-olds and up

1 Ankeny Hill - Is off the turf and will be run on the main track; speed and the rail have been very good so far this meet.

2 Royal F J - Dead late closer will sit in arrears and let others fight it out; will circle wide and pick up what he can.

Long Shot - 3 Snowday

Race 2 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $33,000, Claiming $16,000, 3-year-olds and up

1 Mavericks Gun - Should get a cozy rail trip, which is the lane to be; will sit midpack and try to angle out for a late rally.

10 Half Dome Dude - Very popular at the claim box; is raised in class by Steve Knapp, his MO to victory is usually on the drop down.

Long Shot - 6 Los Bambinos

Race 3 - 1 mile, Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $20,000, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up

8 Prime Issue - The two logical horses must overcome parking lot posts; there is a short run to the first turn.

9 Know Plans - Philip D’Amato takes over training, and that’s a good thing; showed unusual early speed in last after plodder tendency.

Long Shot - 2 Deraptor

Race 4 - 1 1/8th miles, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

6 Loufoque - Is off the turf and will be run on the main track; Off since October, returns with blinkers on and first time with Lasix.

8 Penny Sixpence - Got a test drive at Santa Anita for Neil Drysdale; note the rider switch to Rafael Bejarano for the money shot.

Long Shot - 7 Nighttiming

Race 5 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds

6 Call to Congrats - Impossible race to put in Pick 5 and Pick 6; your edge over me will be in seeing the tote board action.

8 Her Emmynency - Respect for trainer Mike Stidham to make him the chalk in here; loads of FTS, clocker reports will really help.

Long Shot - 7 Ritzy Tags

Race 6 - 1 mile, Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

3 Tiz Midnight - Finally showed the ability that Bob Baffert knew she had all along; she should win thru her conditions as well.

4 Sweetrayofsunshine - For forgiving handicappers only; I like playing horses that didn’t finish, as long as they make sense.

Long Shot - 10 Downton My Lady

Race 7 - 1 1/8th miles, Purse $40,000, Starter allowance $16,000, 3-year-olds and up

6 Fighter Squadron - Is off the turf and will be run on the main track; lot of Ship and Win horses, like this, have gotten claimed.

2 Benba - Has shown ability on synthetics without winning; the A.C. Avila barn has been scalding hot, keep an eye on the tote board.

Long Shot - 5 Skip Tony

Race 8 - 1 1/16th miles, $300,000 Clement L Hirsch, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

2 Iotapa - Explosive win in the Vanity; it was a career best by many lengths, key will be if she bounces or not.

3 Broken Sword - Away since January when tired badly in the La Canada; has proven synthetics form and is obviously fresh.

Long Shot - 1 Fiftyshadesofhay

Race 9 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds and up

6 Turnover - Typical green debut, slow early, fast late; Bob Baffert has an uncoupled entry so caveat emptor.

2 Conscience - Speed and the rail have been very good so far this meet; Drayden Van Dyke has proved he has no fear, nerves of steel.

Long Shot - 10 Vegas Strip

Race 10 - 1 mile, Purse $20,000, Claiming $8,000, 3-year-olds and up

1 God of War - Draw a line thru the last turf race where he was overmatched; strong synthetic resume and he’s facing his friends.

11 Format V. - Should draw in from the also eligible list; claimed by clever trainer Steve Miyadi who plays the claiming game great.

Long Shot - 3 Big Wags

Best Bet - 3 Tiz Midnight (race 6)

Del Mar Friday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/3/$21.20; Long Shots, 7/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Del Mar Totals - 212/44/$313.00; Long Shots, 103/9/$85.40; Best Bets, 10/1/$6.60

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #5 Tapiture (5/2) in race 8 at Mountaineer Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Heaven Knows What ran out at Saratoga. Stats - 118/70/$669.20; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick