Today at Del Mar: Aug. 9, 2014

TODAY AT DEL MAR by Richard Eng

Post Time 2 p.m.

Race 1 - 1 mile, Purse $33,000, Claiming $16,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

1 Rosewhitenblue - The way the A.C. Avila barn is going, just climb on board; aggressive rise in class today.

7 No Tricks for Jack - Has a strong synthetic resume; is 2-for-3 wins at Del Mar, four mores wins in NoCal.

Long Shot - 4 Thermal Nermal

Race 2 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds and up

7 Snuggley Bear - First turf race in seemingly forever; turf rail is out 24 feet, so respect the speed.

8 Wicked Finance - I know he’s a dead late closer, but maybe he can pick up the pieces; not much in here.

Long Shot - 5 Badasmywifeletsmeb

Race 3 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $24,000, Claiming $16,000, 3-year-olds and up

9 Tribal Dude - I don’t usually like graduates facing winners for the first time; key is he loved the synthetics.

3 World Famous Sam T - Claimed by Bob Hess off a better than looked third; he’s teamed up well with Kent Desormeaux.

Long Shot - 2 Pressure Time

Race 4 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds

1 Calculator - Many times the one race experience is a big advantage; typical green debut, slow early, fast late.

6 American Pharoah - Highly rated 2-YO FTS from Bob Baffert; caveat emptor, BB has an uncoupled entry in here.

Long Shot - 2 Iron Fist

Race 5 - 1 1/16th miles (turf, rail at 24 feet), $150,000 La Jolla Handicap, 3-year-olds

6 Enterprising - Showed a previous unseen late explosive kick in last; he keeps improving for Tom Proctor.

2 Schoolofhardrocks - Uneven run as the chalk in the American Derby; his win two back he was really gliding.

Long Shot - 1 Argyle Cut

Race 6 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $75,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies, 2-year-olds

3 Really a Princess - Exits a pop and stop effort in a Cal-bred stakes; quick burst makes her dangerous.

8 Long Hot Summer - FTS from Philip D’Amato;

Long Shot - 4 Definitely Not

Race 7 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

7 Sweet Marini - Bob Baffert layoff horse can fire fresh; ran two good races over Del Mar synthetics last year.

6 Taste Like Candy - Her one synthetic race at Hollywood Park was a second in the Starlet; one to fear.

Long Shot - 2 Mum’s Truckee

Race 8 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $77,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

4 Boozer - Sprouted wings when sent around 2-turns; the slower pace of a route can make a big difference.

3 Husband’s Folly - I find myself picking more and more Kent Desormeaux runners; he is riding in top form.

Long Shot - 6 Great Friends Rule

Race 9 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $24,000, Claiming $16,000, 3-year-olds and up

8 Sir Barclay - Interesting trainer switch to Vann Belvoir; have loved his work since relocating to SoCal.

10 Omar Little - Makes his synthetic track debut tonight; has early speed to be forwardly placed throughout.

Long Shot - 11 Aspirational

Race 10 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $25,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

8 Asparagus - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; takes the blinkers off.

10 Yur Teasing Me - Another taking that big class drop from MSW; hungry rider William Antongeorgi up.

Long Shot - 7 Warren’s Fantasy

Best Bet - 1 Rosewhitenblue (race 1)

Del Mar Friday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/3/$19.00; Long Shots, 8/1/$8.20; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Del Mar Totals - 287/58/$407.20; Long Shots, 142/15/$146.00; Best Bets, 15/2/$10.80

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #2 Seek Again (3/1) in race 10 at Saratoga. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Partly Mocha ran out at Saratoga. Stats - 120/71/$679.60; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick