Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar opinions for Saturday, Aug. 24

FIRST RACE: 1. For Him, 2. Harrovian, 3. Hard Arch. LONG SHOT: Taste’s Legend.
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SECOND RACE: 1. Floyd Moneymaker, 2. Legally Gray, 3. Temple Knights. LONG SHOT: Bound to Go.
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THIRD RACE: 1. I Can Do This, 2. Push Through, 3. Three Ay Em. LONG SHOT: Perfect Wager.
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FOURTH RACE: 1. Mongoalian Legend, 2. Babael, 3. Mica Bay. LONG SHOT: Hypersonic.
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FIFTH RACE: 1, Tammy’s Window, 2. Moonless Sky, 3. Wind Tartare. LONG SHOT: Lady Phyllis.
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SIXTH RACE: 1. Fair Accompli, 2. Mike Operator, 3. Imagineiamfastest. LONG SHOT: Go Sammy Go.
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SEVENTH RACE: 1. GREG’S DIVA (best bet), 2. Cherry City, 3. Lovely Lilia. LONG SHOT: Establish Justice.
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EIGHTH RACE: 1. Cruel Intention, 2. Fashionably Fast, 3. Coil Me Home. LONG SHOT: Boogalute.
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NINTH RACE: 1. Giant Expectations, 2. Catalina Cruiser, 3. Seven Trumpets. LONG SHOT: Chief Cicatriz.
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10TH RACE: 1. Hootie, 2. Combat Zone, 3. Reedley. LONG SHOT: M Town Gem.

Good luck.

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar opinions for Friday, Aug. 23 (UPDATED)

FIRST RACE: 1. Strike That, 2. Norski, 3. Mutineer. LONG SHOT: High Five.
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SECOND RACE: 1. Dakota Ready, 2. Etching (scratched) NEW PICK: Harper’s Gallop, 3. Archana. LONG SHOT: Ebb and Flow.
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THIRD RACE: 1. Awesome Heights, 2. Buckys Pick, 3. Dom the Bomb. LONG SHOT: Gutsy Ruler.
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FOURTH RACE: 1. First Star, 2. Dr Wysong, 3. Scarlet. LONG SHOT: Pride’s Gold.
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FIFTH RACE: 1. TOO HOT FOR CURLIN (best bet), 2. Y Not Sizzle, 3. Nothing But Heat. LONG SHOT: Our Romance.
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SIXTH RACE: 1. Vibrance, 2. Just a Smidge (scratched) new pick: KAYDETRE, 3. Yuvetsi. LONG SHOT: Lady Suebee.
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SEVENTH RACE: 1. Fluent in Sarcasm, 2. Best Chance, 3. Rip City. LONG SHOT: Strongconstitution.

Good luck.

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS

Top choice winners: 3 (Warren’s Showtime $6.40, first race; Beyond Pleasure $5.60, second; Nucky $3, eighth)

Second choice winners: 1 (Mind Out $5.20, third)

Third choice winners: 2 (Murad Khan $6.60, fifth; Boa Nova $8.80, seventh)

Long shot winners: 1 (Two Thirty Five $14.80, sixth)

THURSDAY’S RESULTS

Top choice winners: 1 (Lemon King $6.40, fifth)

Second choice winners: 1 (Carressa $13, second)

Third choice winners: 2 (Staythirstymyamigo $6, third; Qahire $6.60, sixth)

Long shot winners: 0

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar opinions for Thursday, Aug. 22

How the track is playing

The inside post was a miserable 1 for 23 last week in main track sprints. The No. 2 hole was the top performer with five wins in 23 races.
In distance races, winners were spread over the inside six posts pretty evenly but the No. 3 post was just 1 for 19.
On the turf course again winners spread out although the No. 1 and 2 posts went 5 for 15 to show a bit of improvement. The No. 3 post was just 1 for 15.

FIRST RACE: 1. G Q Covergirl, 2. South Boot Shirley, 3. Swirling. LONG SHOT: Cyrielle.
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SECOND RACE: 1. Unicorn, 2. Carressa, 3. Crystal Lake. LONG SHOT: Pink Scatillac.
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THIRD RACE: 1. Thanks, 2. Be Lifted Up, 3. Staythirstymyamigo. LONG SHOT: Discrete Stevie B.
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FOURTH RACE: 1. Toothless Wonder, 2. Handsome John, 3. Verynsky. LONG SHOT: Royal Creed.
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FIFTH RACE: 1. Lemon King, 2. One Fast Bro, 3. Fantasy Game. LONG SHOT: Canyon Crest.
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SIXTH RACE: 1. MO SEE CAL (best bet), 2. Show It N Moe It, 3. Qahira. LONG SHOT: Watch Me Burn.
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SEVENTH RACE: 1. Live It Well, 2. Miss Indefatigable, 3. Apache Pass. LONG SHOT: Slew South.

Good luck.

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar opinions for Wednesday, Aug. 21 (UPDATED)

Barns heating up

Trainers Richard Baltas and Phil D’Amato finally jump-started their meets during Pacific Classic week.
Baltas was 6 for 20, including four wins on the Pacific Classic card (two with John Velazquez), now trails Doug O’Neill, 20-17.
O’Neill seems to on an every other week binge as he went 1 for 11 the last five racing days which might mean he’s due for another warm streak this coming week.
D’Amato went 4 for 11 and is now tied for fourth in the standings (10 wins) with John Sadler, who went 3 for 6 and leads the meet in money won with more than $1.5 million.
Peter Miller is third in the standings with 13 wins after a 2 for 12 week.
Mark Glatt (8-2-2-3) and Bob Hess Jr. (5-2-2-1) also had big weeks.
Sadler and Miller are tied for the lead with eight wins each on the main track while Bob Baffert and O’Neill have seven each.
O’Neill still leads in grass victories with 10 despite an 0 for 7 week. Baltas has nine wins on turf and D’Amato has eight while leading in money won with nearly $820,000.

WEDNESDAY’S SELECTIONS

FIRST RACE: 1. Lakaya, 2. Nina En Fuego, 3. Warren’s Showtime. LONG SHOT: Sassyserb.
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SECOND RACE: 1. Beyond Pleasure, 2. Atina (SCRATCHED) new horse: Whirling, 3. Cimarron. LONG SHOT: Fracas.
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THIRD RACE: 1. Secret Square, 2. Mind Out, 3. Nu Pi Lambda. LONG SHOT: Beautiful Thunder.
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FOURTH RACE: 1. Go For a Ride, 2. Caribbean, 3. Noble Pursuit. LONG SHOT: Mongolian Hero.
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FIFTH RACE: 1. VERY VERY STELLA (best bet), 2. Unusually Green, 3. Murad Khan. LONG SHOT: Terrys Tom Cat.
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SIXTH RACE: 1. Isotherm, 2. Dr. Dorr, 3. Line Judge. LONG SHOT: Two Thirty Five.
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SEVENTH RACE: 1. No Bang No Boom (SCRATCHED), 2. Oil Can Knight (SCRATCHED), 3. Prodigal Son. LONG SHOT: Hartel. New picks: 1. Prodigal Son, 2. Hartel, 3. Boa Nova. LONG SHOT: Order and Law.
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EIGHTH RACE: 1. Nucky, 2. Bamboozler, 3. Railsplitter. LONG SHOT: Prince Ricky.

Good luck.

SUNDAY’S RESULTS

Top choice winners: 1 (Vintage Hollywood $4.80, third race)

Second choice winners: 3 (Stellar Sound $5, first; Todos Santos $5.80, second; Flagstaff $3.60, fourth)

Third choice winners: 1 (Midcourt $31, eighth)

Long shot winners: 3 (Twirling Tiger $9, fifth; It’s Fitting $37.60, sixth; She’s Our Charm $18, ninth)

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar opinions for Tuesday, Aug. 20

In the saddle

Victor Espinoza led all jockeys last week with six wins. He was followed by Joe Talamo and Rafael Bejarano, who had five wins each.
Flavien Prat still leads the standings with 27 winners and an argument could be made for the fact that he had the best week despite a 2 for 22 effort. Prat won the $1 million Pacific Classic aboard Higher Power for John Sadler.
Drayden Van Dyke (3 for 22) is still second in the standings but only one win ahead of Bejarano, 20-19.
Abel Cedillo was 4 for 13 during Week 5 on the dirt and is now the leading rider on the main track with 14 victories. Ruben Fuentes is second with 13 and Prat is third with 12.
Prat had a brutal week on the grass with an 0 for 12 effort, but he shouldn’t feel bad as New York jockey John Velazquez came in over the weekend to pilfer three victories on the turf. Plus, Saratoga-based jockey Florent Geroux added another turf victory in addition to a win he scored on main track. So that was five total wins for the out-of-towners.
Fuentes scored his first win on the green but he is still only 1 for 42 on the surface. Martin Garcia is 1 for 27, Norberto Arroyo Jr. is 1 or 29, Jorge Velez 1 for 23 and Aaron Gryder 1 for 22 on the grass while Tiago Periera is 0 for 32. Ouch.

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar opinions for Sunday, Aug. 18

FIRST RACE: 1. Buyer’s Remorse, 2. Stellar Sound, 3. Matera. LONG SHOT: Christmas Pickles.
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SECOND RACE: 1. Ciao Luna, 2. Todos Santos, 3. Baby Ice. LONG SHOT: C C the Bartender.
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THIRD RACE: 1, Vintage Hollywood, 2. Cosa Nostra, 3. Scrappy Deville. LONG SHOT: King Charlie.
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FOURTH RACE: 1. McKale, 2. Flagstaff, 3. California Street. LONG SHOT: Secular Nation.
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FIFTH RACE: 1. Forever Juanito, 2. Conquest Cobra, 3. Ted W. LONG SHOT: Twirling Tiger.
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SIXTH RACE: 1. Claim of Passion, 2. Jetovator, 3. Summer Fun. LONG SHOT: It’s Fitting.
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SEVENTH RACE: 1. Ohio, 2. Bowies Hero, 3. What a View. LONG SHOT: Sharp Samurai.
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EIGHTH RACE: 1. Magic On Tap, 2. Julius, 3. Midcourt. LONG SHOT: Feeling Strong.
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NINTH RACE: 1. BODHICITTA (best bet on the also-eligible list), 2. The Nightingale, 3. Ameerah B, 4. Pretty Point. LONG SHOT: She’s Our Charm.

Good luck.

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

Top choice winners: 3 (Stylishly $5, fourth race; Rizzi’s Honors $8.60, fifth; Dawood $4, eighth)

Second choice winners: 0

Third choice winners: 1 (Tiger Dad $5.80, second)

Long shot winners: 1 (Tap Back $33.80, third)

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

Top choice winners: 3 (Fawree $5, first race; Succeedandsurpass $6.80, fifth; Cambier Parc $4.40, ninth race)

Second choice winners: 1 (Paid Informant $5.80, second)

Third choice winners: 0

Long shot winners: 0

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar opinions for Saturday, Aug. 17 (Pacific Classic Day) UPDATED

FIRST RACE: 1. Fawree, 2. Route Six Six, 3. Paladar. LONG SHOT: California Journey.
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SECOND RACE: 1. ORQUIDIAS BIZ (best bet), 2. Paid Informant, 3. Samurai Charm. LONG SHOT: Lucia’s Design.
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THIRD RACE: 1. Stormy Liberal, 2. Eddie Haskell, 3. Undrafted. LONG SHOT: Calexman.
It was all I could do not to pick UNDRAFTED. There is so much speed in this race and he is the only closer, but STORMY LIBERAL AND EDDIE HASKELL love this turf course so much, I just couldn’t do it.
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FOURTH RACE: 1. Mr. Brownstone, 2. Satanta, 3. Executive Cat SCRATCHED, new No. 3: Swiss Minister. LONG SHOT: Clem Labine.
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FIFTH RACE: 1. Succeedandsurpass, 2. Mo Forza, 3. Farquhar. LONG SHOT: Lambeau.
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SIXTH RACE: 1. Smooth Like Strait, 2. Royal Thunder, 3. Bronn. LONG SHOT: Special Day.
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SEVENTH RACE: 1. United SCRATCHED, 2. The Great Day, 3. Marckie’s Water. NEW PICKS: 1. The Great Day, Marchie’s Water, 3. Itsinthepost. LONG SHOT: Blended Citizen.
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EIGHTH RACE: 1, Classic Fit, 2. Kim K, 3. High Regard. LONG SHOT: Into Chocolate.
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NINTH RACE: 1. Cambier Parc, 2. Dogtag, 3. Hidden Message. LONG SHOT: Hard Legacy.
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10TH RACE (Grade I Pacific Classic): 1. Tenfold, 2. Seeking the Soul, 3. Quip. LONG SHOT: For the Top.
Once again I will take this platform to say upon deaf ears to the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club: YOU SHOULDN’T BE RUNNING YOUR PREMIER RACE AT 6:30 P.M.!!! Those who haven’t been there on Pacific Classic Day, people start leaving after the fifth or sixth race and there is a steady stream afterwards. This year’s race is one of the best betting affairs in the history of the event but it shouldn’t have a post time of 9:30 p.m. on the East Coast. The race should be earlier on the card and there really wasn’t anything wrong with starting the first race at 1 p.m. for all those years. But hey what do I know? I know Del Mar is leaving a lot of wagering dollars on the table by running this race so late.
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11th RACE: 1. Betty F, 2. Salsa Bella, 3. Woodfin. LONG SHOT: Desert Oasis (SCRATCHED) New long shot: An Eddie Surprise..

Good luck.

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar opinions for Friday, Aug. 16

FIRST RACE: 1. Conquest Smartee, 2. Surfside Sunset, 3. Seahawk Wave. LONG SHOT: War Union.
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SECOND RACE: 1. TRISTRAM SPEAKER (best bet), 2. Zipper Mischief, 3. Tiger Dad. LONG SHOT: Short of Ez.
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THIRD RACE: 1. Cleveland Cat, 2. Mainframe Judy, 3. Ten Cents. LONG SHOT: Tap Back.
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FOURTH RACE: 1. Stylishly, 2. Andyoushallreceive, 3. Into the South. LONG SHOT: Tiger Silk.
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FIFTH RACE: 1, Rizzi’s Honors, 2. Party Hostess, 3. Brookes All Mine. LONG SHOT: Red Livy.
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SIXTH RACE: 1, Blue Moonrise, 2. Distorted Win, 3. Shear Class. LONG SHOT: Cover Version.
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SEVENTH RACE: 1. Pantsonfire, 2. Lostintranzlation, 3. Mirth. LONG SHOT: Anna Paviova.
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EIGHTH RACE: 1, Dawood, 2. Sharpshootingeorge, 3. Refractometer. LONG SHOT: The Easy Way.

Good luck.

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS

Top choice winners: 0

Second choice winners: 3 (Adulting $4.80, second race; Equal Measure $9.40, fourth; An Ocala Ten $8.40, seventh)

Third choice winners: 1 (Just Grazed Me $4.40, sixth)

Long shot winners: 0

THURSDAY’S RESULTS

Top choice winners: 2 (Empress of Lov $3.40, first race; Tequila Joe $5.80, second)

Second choice winners: 2 (Leucothea $7, fifth; I Want One $9, seventh)

Third choice winners: 1 (Sedamar $6.60, sixth)

Long shot winners: 0

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar opinions for Thursday, Aug. 15

Note: Sorry these are late. I didn’t feel great yesterday.

FIRST RACE: 1. Empress of Lov, 2. Love of Art, 3. Topaz Time. LONG SHOT: Forbidden Command.
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SECOND RACE: 1. Tequila Joe, 2.Calle Kingpin, 3. Erotic. LONG SHOT: Snazzy Dresser.
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THIRD RACE: 1. Blame It On Kitty, 2. Unbroken Star, 3. Tidal Effect. LONG SHOT: Fast as Cass.
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FOURTH RACE: 1. Wicked Liar, 2. Be a Shero, 3. Miss Stormy D. LONG SHOT: Surreptitous.
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FIFTH RACE: 1. Biddy Duke, 2. Leucothea, 3. Musically. LONG SHOT: Lady Agatha.
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SIXTH RACE: 1. SUPER BUNNY (best bet), 2. Shehastheritestuff, 3. Sedamar. LONG SHOT: Smiling Annie.
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SEVENTH RACE: 1. Liberalism, 2. I Want One, 3. Navy Queen. LONG SHOT: Almost a Factor.

Good luck.

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar opinions for Wednesday, Aug. 14

Prat on fire

Jockey Flavien Prat pretty much wrapped up the riding title with an eight-win week from 26 mounts during Week 4. His five-win day on Saturday was a thing of beauty and all jockeys should watch replays of his winners to see how he put his his horses in position to reach the winner’s circle.
Prat now leads Drayden Van Dyke, 25-17, after Van Dyke suffered an 0 for 17 week. It wasn’t that Van Dyke was riding poorly because he had four seconds and four thirds. It was just a case of not getting the breaks.
Rafael Bejarano also had a tough five days with just one winner from 16 mounts.
Ruben Fuentes had a solid 25-3-4-3 week as did Abel Cedillo (15-3-0-3), who missed Sunday’s card to ride at Emerald Downs.
Fuentes remains the top rider on the main track with 12 victories followed by Prat and Cedillo, who each have 10 wins each.
The turf course is being dominated by four jockeys: Prat (15 wins), Van Dyke (10), Bejarano (eight) and Joe Talamo (six). They have a total of 39 victories. The rest of the riding colony has 22 wins on the grass.

WEDNESDAY’S PICKS

FIRST RACE: 1. Shootin Money, 2. Heraclitus, 3. Deckology. LONG SHOT: Four O’Five.
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SECOND RACE: 1. Vidalia, 2. Adulting, 3. Chirp. LONG SHOT: Shesaidshesperfect.
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THIRD RACE: 1. Bellerin, 2. Sheer Flattery, 3. Dukes Up. LONG SHOT: Start a Runnin.
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FOURTH RACE: 1. Flying to the Line, 2. Equal Measure, 3. Red Bunting. LONG SHOT: Breezy Bee.
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FIFTH RACE: 1. Anniversary Sale, 2. Atomic Candy, 3. Afternoon Heat. LONG SHOT: Calder Vale.
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SIXTH RACE: 1. TRAVIEZA (best bet), 2. Gypsy Blu, 3. Just Grazed Me. LONG SHOT: Storming Lady.
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SEVENTH RACE: 1. Papa Turf, 2. An Ocala Ten, 3. Westmont. LONG SHOT: Nova.

Good luck.

SUNDAY’S RESULTS

Top choice winners: 2 (Drink $11.20, second race; Inspiressa $4, fourth)

Second choice winners: 1 (Indy Jones $6.60, fifth)

Third choice winners: 1 (Overdue $5, third)

Long shot winners: 1 (Carnivorous $13.40, sixth)

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