Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar opinions for Saturday, Aug. 26

PREVIEW: Tough week handicapping. Horses I picked second come in to win and if you know me by now I don’t pick a lot of favorites. But have to keep on, keeping on.

FIRST RACE: 1. Real Big Deal, 2. Dream Police, 3. Que Chistoso. LONG SHOT: Sir Matador.
Apprentice Laura Werner didn’t go from the inside last time on Dream Police so it will be interesting to see what she does from the outside this time. Real Big Deal has apprentice Evin Roman aboard and he leads all Del Mar jockeys in wins on the dirt.

SECOND RACE: 1. It’s Not So Easy, 2. Mama’s Sugar, 3. Magical Lucy. LONG SHOT: Lady Cloud.

THIRD RACE: 1. G Q Covergirl, 2. Sheza Chattykat, 3. Late ‘n Left. LONG SHOT: Cash Prize.
Trainer Phil D’Amato leads the meet with 11 wins on the grass and really like both entries today (Newsman in the sixth is the other one).

FOURTH RACE: 1. True Royalty, 2. High Drama, 3. Saint Tropez. LONG SHOT: Curlin’s Journey.

FIFTH RACE: 1. Time for Cioppino, 2. Royal Bar, 3. Lucky Romano. LONG SHOT: Oh Man.

SIXTH RACE: 1. Newsman, 2. Oregon, 3. Conquest Typhoon. LONG SHOT: County Lineman.
Like I said before, I liked both of D’Amato’s horses today. This one like to finish second but this will be the third off the layoff abd good grass jockey Corey Nakatani keeps the mount.

SEVENTH RACE: 1. Battle of Midway, 2. Klimt, 3. Gormley. LONG SHOT: Gato Del Oro.

EIGHTH RACE: 1. Kona Dreams, 2. Irish Goodbye, 3. Popyhowuspelcupcak. LONG SHOT: Tyler’s Tek.
This one got caught up in a speed duel last time and spit the bit in the stretch. Here’s hoping the jockey switch to Tiago Pereira does the trick. Tiago is 60 percent over the last year with trainer Bill Spawr.

NINTH RACE: 1. Calculator, 2. Silent Bird, 3. Kobe’s Back. LONG SHOT: Giant Expectations.
This running of the 7-furlong of the Pat O’Brien lost some of its lust when Danzing Candy suffered a fractured leg Friday morning and has been retired. Losing the 8-5 morning-line favorite means this race is wide open. I wouldn’t talk anyone off any horse in here.

10TH RACE: 1. BOLD PAPA (best bet), 2. Tatar, 3. Chidamac. LONG SHOT: Brahms Forest.

Good luck.

@Jeff_Nahill

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar opinions for Friday, Aug. 25 (First post 3:30 p.m.)

FIRST RACE: 1. SLY HUMOR (BEST BET), 2. She’sluckythatway, 3. Irish Dame. LONG SHOT: Glorious Venezuela.

SECOND RACE: 1. Tiz Adore, 2. Miss Boom Boom, 3. Space Cadet. LONG SHOT: Mint Julep Taffy.

THIRD RACE: 1. Bank Walker, 2. Ayacara, 3. Longden. LONG SHOT: Taranis.

FOURTH RACE: 1. Rye Patch, 2. Burger and Fries, 3. Indygo Bo. LONG SHOT: Malko.

FIFTH RACE: 1. Camino de Estrella, 2. Borg, 3. Thorpe d’Oro. LONG SHOT: Union Rebel.

SIXTH RACE: 1. Cafe Flavor, 2. Il Segreto, 3. Unapologetic. LONG SHOT: Uber Star.

SEVENTH RACE: 1. Faithfully, 2. Chalon, 3. Motown Lady. LONG SHOT: Mended.

EIGHTH RACE: 1. Fly as a Falcon, 2. Boss Move, 3. Dream of Eagles. LONG SHOT: West Princess.

Good luck.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar opinions for Thursday, Aug. 24

Preview: Thanks to all those who liked the 10-1 winner in Sunday’s final race. We came back with three winners Wednesday, but one was by DQ and one was Cupid. Who didn’t like Cupid? Looks like he’ll be in the Breeders’ Cup Classic if he is healthy. Not a great card but late Pick Four looks like a money maker.

FIRST RACE: 1. Cupid’s Beau, 2. Who’s Hot, 3. Levitation. LONG SHOT: Pumpkin Star.

SECOND RACE: 1. Ucanthankmelater, 2. Vibe, 3. Indium. LONG SHOT: Seeking Bea.

THIRD RACE: 1. Quinn Murphy, 2. Ragazza Di Vola, 3. Gio’s Lady. LONG SHOT: Deanns Mojave.

FOURTH RACE: 1. Pray Hard, 2. Pedro Cerrano, 3. Chips All In. LONG SHOT: Templar.

FIFTH RACE: 1. FRACUS (BEST BET), 2. Artistic Diva, 3. Silken Spy. LONG SHOT: Factorize.
In today’s fifth race, Fracas makes his first try on turf. The sire Violence has been throwing winners on grass (27 percent) and dirt so I am looking for a big effort today. Trainer Simon Callaghan is 32 percent when going from dirt to turf.

SIXTH RACE: 1. Two Timing Lucy, 2. Twisted Rosie, 3. Helen’s Tiger. LONG SHOT: Ciao Luna.

SEVENTH RACE: 1. Shazara, 2. Party Hostess, 3. Midnight Swinger. LONG SHOT: Tink’s Twirl.

EIGHTH RACE: 1. Tribal Tribute, 3. Hackleton, 3. Tiz Jolie. LONG SHOT: Prohibition.

Good luck.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar opinions for Wednesday, Aug. 23

FIRST RACE: 1. Starr of Quality, 2. Bridal Arch, 3. Online Request. LONG SHOT: Very Hot.

SECOND RACE: 1. Mining Diamonds, 2. Sally Simpson, 3. Gift of a Star. LONG SHOT: Pure Perfection.

THIRD RACE: 1. Rafter One, 2. Majordomo, 3. My Perfect Gem. LONG SHOT: Easy Game.

FOURTH RACE: 1. Miz Strawberry Dee, 2. Out Ofthe Ordinary, 3. Mangita. LONG SHOT: Swissarella.

FIFTH RACE: 1. ZIPPY GROOM (best bet), 2. Desert Domination, 3. Mugaritz. LONG SHOT: Trust N Liberty.

SIXTH RACE: 1. Winemenow, 2. Secret Thorn, 3. Ready to Hula Lula. LONG SHOT: Bold At Night.

SEVENTH RACE: 1. Cupid, 2. Curlin Rules, 3. Soi Phet. LONG SHOT: Win the Space.

EIGHTH RACE: 1. Latitude, 2. Acker, 3. Warren’s Fandango. LONG SHOT: Divisor.

Good luck.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar opinions for Sunday, Aug. 20

Preview: Well, the Pacific Classic is over. Bring on the Breeders’ Cup. It’s obvious Arrogate doesn’t like the Del Mar surface but he ran a gutsy race and jockey Mike Smith had him finishing at the end. The deal here is that the Del Mar surface is softer this year due to the rash of fatalities last year. Also the track sped up this week. Coincidence? I’ll let others debate. The real issue is what will it be like in November. It seems to me with cooler weather the track will be tighter. I enjoy all the Gun Runner lovers saying Arrogate is ripe for the taking. The bigger question is will Gun Runner like the Del Mar track? We know Collected does. He’s 7 for 7 on dry dirt tracks. Let that sink in for a minute. It will be interesting in November.

FIRST RACE: 1. Bona Fide Image, 2. Flower Heart Deer, 3. Justice Rules. LONG SHOT: Sea Code.

SECOND RACE: 1. Burn Me Twice, 2. Aristocratic, 3. One I’m Running To. LONG SHOT: Regal Born.

THIRD RACE: 1. Tommy Grossman, 2. Caray, 3. Hawks Peak. LONG SHOT: Spend It.
Tommy Grossman gets a huge jock switch to Evin Roman and trainer Mike Chambers is 30 percent third off the layoff. Caray was claimed by Gary Stute, who is 26% first time off the claim.

FOURTH RACE: 1. Literary Critic, 2. Scandal, 3. Eternal Endeavour. LONG SHOT: Miz Tianjin.

FIFTH RACE: 1. All of a Sudden, 2. Dreamy Gal, 3. Candy Ruler. LONG SHOT: Papercoversrock.

SIXTH RACE: 1. My Man Chuckles, 2. Kenzou’s Rhythm, 3. Van Cortlandt. LONG SHOT: Sutton Impact.

SEVENTH RACE: 1. Pleasant as Pie, 2. Classy Tune, 3. Plane Lucky. LONG SHOT: Sandy’s Surprise.

EIGHTH RACE: 1. Vyjack, 2. Om, 3. Midnight Storm. LONG SHOT: Le Ken.

NINTH RACE: 1. Jungle Warfare, 2. St Patrick’s Day, 3. Zatter. LONG SHOT: Salsa King.

10TH RACE: 1. BROOKS HOUSE (BEST BET), 2. Arethusa, 3. Bombilate. LONG SHOT: La Force.
Trainer Victoria Oliver, who is based in Kentucky, finally shows up in the Del Mar entries. When she comes West, she is usually loaded. In the last three years, Oliver has started 23 horses at Del Mar with six wins, averaging $19 per winner. In the 10th race, Brooks House (15-1) comes in. She finished second over this course in the past and this is too good a price to pass up with excellent turf jockey Drayden Van Dyke in the irons.

Good luck.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar opinions for Saturday, Aug. 19 (Pacific Classic Day)

FIRST RACE: 1. Inhibition, 2. The Real McCann, 3. Bucky Goldstein. LONG SHOT: Hoppitty.

SECOND RACE: 1. Lord Simba, 2. American Pastime, 3. Taman Guard. LONG SHOT: Coastline.
Trainer Bob Baffert loves to win other races on big days at the track and this son of Discreet Cat has been away since May, when he finished third in the Kona Gold at Santa Anita. I look for a big effort here.

FIFTH RACE: 1. AUSSIE FOX (best bet), 2. Saltini, 3. Lucky Soul. LONG SHOT: Icy Street.
This looks like a wide open race to me, but I love Aussie Fox. The colt just missed last time when he started from the No. 11 post. Today, he gets to start from the inside so look for jockey Rafael Bejarano to gun from the gate. I don’t know if Saltini will be ready off the bench for Richard Mandella, but look who he lost to in his last race … Arrogate. Hmmmm.

EIGHTH RACE ($1 million Pacific Classic): 1. Collected, 2. Accelerate, 3. Arrogate. LONG SHOT: Hard Aces.
I believe Baffert when he says Arrogate is ready to go, but I didn’t like the workout this week with Arrogate looking all over the place when he hit the stretch. I’m sticking with the “other” Baffert play. Collected destroyed Accelerate the last time they met. Some times horses just have another horse’s number like Accelerate already beating Arrogate twice. I hope Arrogate is back to his old self. This sport needs superstars. I’m just not 100 percent convinced. Maybe I will be at 5:46 p.m. today.

For the rest of my selections, go to:
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/sd-sp-delmar-selections-handicap-nahill-20170818-story.html

Good luck.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar opinions for Friday, Aug. 18 (First post 4 p.m.)

Preview: A couple of winners on Thursday and a couple of my long shots came in. Be sure to check those long shots. Beware with sunset coming earlier and earlier, Del Mar is going to cut down on the time in between races in order to keep an 8-race card. So watch the clock carefully.

FIRST RACE: 1. Blue Anchor, 2. Mr. Opportunist, 3. Karma King. LONG SHOT: New Karma.
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SECOND RACE: 1. Gosofar, 2. Vegas Vic, 3. My Friend Tony. LONG SHOT: Thank My Buddy.
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THIRD RACE: 1. Kennedie Sky, 2. An Unusual Group, 3. Del Mar Ann. LONG SHOT: Scatterling.
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FOURTH RACE: 1. RAVEN CREEK (best bet), 2. Katzmoto, 3. My Boo. LONG SHOT: Nova.
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FIFTH RACE: 1. Accountability, 2. The Big Train, 3. Popular Kid. LONG SHOT: Plate Side.
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SIXTH RACE: 1. Fight Thru, 2. Winning Causeway, 3. Hawk’s Eyes. LONG SHOT: He’saruler.
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SEVENTH RACE: 1. Kristo Skye, 2. Richard’s Boy, 3. Jimmy Bouncer. LONG SHOT: Guns Loaded.
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EIGHTH RACE: 1. Make It a Triple, 2. Zap Again, 3. Manning. LONG SHOT: Big Hearted.

Good luck.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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