Tag Archives: Bill Spawr

Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar opinions for Saturday, July 29

Preview: Favorites continue to take it on the chin eight days into the meet, but you know at some time the ride will turn, especially at Del Mar. Last Saturday, there was a rally wide bias after the racing from Friday night so watch the first race carefully.

FIRST RACE: 1. Jungle Warfare, 2. Ayacara, 3. Tatters to Riches. LONG SHOT: Blended Citizen.
Tatters to Riches is a $1 million baby trained by Jeff Mullins. The son Union Rags had been training lights out, but anything can happened the first time. Mullins is also just one for his last 15 with first-time starters. Jungle Warfare costs $300,000 and finished third in his debut. He has been working well and improvement should come today with apprentice Evil Roman in the irons.

SECOND RACE: 1. Mama’s Sugar, 2. Tiz Delightful, 3. Fabulous Lady. LONG SHOT: Zanab.

THIRD RACE: 1. G.G. Ryder, 2. He Will, 3. Incredible Luck. LONG SHOT: My Italian Babbo.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer would see to hold all the cards in this Cal-bred stakes with the top two horses. Can you say exacta box?

For the reminder of my picks go to:
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/sd-sp-jeff-nahills-delmar-selections-saturday-july-29-story.html

Good luck.

@Jeff_Nahill

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Friday, March 31

Race 4 – SA
#4 Settle Down Eileen (7-2) ****
Our Eyes: Has been away since October and ends up in the Bill Spawr barn. Spawr is 2-for-3 with maiden claimers and 50% going from MSW to maiden claimers. Gary Stevens rides and he’s picky on who he rides.
Jeff’s Playbook: 4 units to win. Back wheel exacta all with 4.

Race 6 – SA
#1 Generous Pour (6-1) ****
Our Eyes: Trainer Craig Dollase is 29% second off the claim. This has two career wins on dirt but her last three were on the turf. Maybe she is just a dirt horse.
Jeff’s Playbook: 4 units to win, 5 units to place and 6 units to show.

Race 7 – SA
#3 Accountability (10-1) TURF ONLY ***
Our Eyes: This colt has a lot going for him as he goes two turns for the first time. The 3-year-old comes out of a key race and trainer Rafael Becerra is 19% with horses off 90-day or longer rest plus the sire Acclamation is 17% with horses first time on the turf.
Jeff’s Playbook: 3 units to win, 5 units to place and 6 units to show.

Race 8 – SA
#7 Jordana (8-1) ***
Our Eyes: Trainer Scott Hansen is 18% when he sends a horse around two turns for the first time. He also puts blinkers on and this filly has the best Brisnet Late Pace Rating.
Jeff’s Playbook: 3 units to win, 5 units to place and 6 units to show.

Good luck.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Thursday, March 30

Race 1 – SA
#2 Vibe (4-1) ****
Our Eyes: This 3-year-old has been gelded by trainer Keith Desormeeaux since his last race and has been given 3 months off to grow up. Look for an improve effort.
Jeff’s Playbook: 4 units to win. Back wheel exacta all with 2.

Race 4 – SA
#2 Icona (10-1) ****
Our Eyes: This filly is going two turns for the first time and she is bred for it on the bottom side. She is coming out of a key race that has produced two winners so far and trainer Phil D’Amato is 20% going from sprint to route..
Jeff’s Playbook: 4 units to win. Back wheel exacta all with 2.

Race 5 – SA
#2 Image of Joplin (3-1) ****
Our Eyes: Trainer Bill Spawr has had a big meet so far (34%). He’s 24% first off the claim and he’s 23% with jockey Martin Pedroza.
Jeff’s Playbook: 4 units to win, 5 units to place and 6 units to show.

Race 8 – SA
#1 Felina (12-1) ***
Our Eyes: Big jock switch here to Joe Talamo and this filly has been away since October. She has been working well for her return.
Jeff’s Playbook: 3 units to win, 5 units to place and 6 units to show.

Good luck.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Friday, Feb. 10

Preview: There is an 80 to 100% per chance of rain in Arcadia today so I don’t see a reason to look at the two turf races.

Race 6 – SA
#7 Moments Notiz (6-1) ****
Our Eyes: Trainer Bill Spawr is 7-for-16 at the meet. This takes a class drop and should love a wet track with a 9-3-2-2 record. Jockey Agapito Delgadillo keeps the mount and is 17% with Spawr at Santa Anita.
Jeff’s Playbook: 4 units to win, 5 units to place and 6 units to show.

Race 8 – SA
#6 Hard Arch (4-1) ****
Our Eyes: Finished third over a wet/fast track last time, but the key here today is the stretch out. Trainer Vladimir Cerin is 22% with horses going sprint-sprint-route and he gets Kent Desormeaux to ride this son of Archarcharch.
Jeff’s Playbook: 4 units to win, 5 units to place and 6 units to show.

Good luck.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Thursday, Dec. 1

Preview: Jockey Flavien Prat will miss the remainder of the meet after being thrown from a mount on Sunday. Prat saw blood in his urine and doctors told him not to ride again until Dec. 26, opening day at Santa Anita. There will be plenty of jock changes Thursday and Friday so pay attention.

Sorry late again.

Race 1: #6 Easter Fever (2-1) BEST BET, 2. Ron Sophia, 3. Princess Kendra. LONG SHOT: Q’Viva.
Could be a single on most Picks 5s. Trainer Phil D’Amato is 22% first off the claim and 2-for-5 when dropping off the claim. Even with the drop, if D’Amato wins and the 4-year-old gets claimed he makes a nice profit. This 4-year-old has has good early speed.

Race 2: 1. T. Montana, 2. Sorry Erik, 3. Beantown Noys. LONG SHOT: Mizzen Me.

Race 3: 1. Nat’s Nation, 2. Malko, 3. Trust Your Gut. LONG SHOT: Motoring Around.

Race 4: #6 Princess Marie (6-1), 2. Big Adventure, 3. War Factor. LONG SHOT: Dumont.
This filly has had trouble in her last two starts and now she goes two turns for the first time. Trainer Kristin Mulhall is 24% when she has two sprints into a route. Mulhall had secured leading jockey Prat before his injury so that’s a good sign.

Race 5: 1. Halo Darling, 2. Conquest So True, 3. Sid the Squid. LONG SHOT: Flaming Vixen.

Race 6: 1. Alright Alright, 2. Blameitonthelaw, 3. Indavidualist. LONG SHOT: Act.

Race 7: 1. Guns Loaded, 2. Siletn Bird, 3. Conquest Cobra. LONG SHOT: El Huerfano.

Race 8: #7 Bona Fide Image (5-1), 2. Another Girl Alma, 3. Bissou Bissou. LONG SHOT: Rally Back.
Trainer Bill Spawr isn’t know for his work with 2-year-olds but this filly could be sitting on a win after trouble in her last race. Spawr is 21% with maiden claimers and 18% with beaten favorites. He also has a good late kick and jockey Tyler Baze keeps the mount.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Saturday, Sept. 3

Race 1: 1. Czarina, 2. Adorable, 3. Settle Down Eileen. LONG SHOT: Online Request.

Race 2: 1. #9 Big Energy (10-1), 2. Special Story, 3. Basinca. LONG SHOT: Seattle Boom.

This gelding broke his maiden on the front end and then fell apart against winners. Despite that trainer Terry Knight ships him down from Northern California. Knight is 25% with shippers and beaten favorites. Kent Desormeaux jumps on.

Race 3: 1. #3 Gunslinger (5-1) BEST BET, 2. Tribal Jewel, 3. Indygo Holiday. LONG SHOT: J Serino.

This gelding has won twice over this track by more than 30 lengths. Last time he started from the outside post and still got second.. He moves to the inside and trainer Bill Spawr still moves him up in class.

Race 4: 1. Matter of Luck, 2. Moonie, 3. Later My Love. LONG SHOT: Tuscany Beauty.

Raced 5: 1. Little Nati, 2. Jilly, 3. Viva Vegas. LONG SHOT: Glory and Power.

Race 6: 1. #7 Farley (10-1), 2. Farley, 2. Big Score, 3. Bowies Hero. LONG SHOT: Irish Goodbye.

This is the toughest race on the card, 2-year-olds going a mile on the turf. This colt showed huge improvement went put on the turf, just missing the win. Has tactical speed, which jockey Mario Gutierrez will have to use.

Race 7: 1. Mama’s Sugar, 2. Seaside Glory, 3. Yana. long shot: rOSA bRAVA.

Race 8: 1. Iwobi, 2. Kimbear, 3. Serve Me a Double. LONG SHOT: Spectacular One.

Race 9: 1. #7 Union Strike (15-1), 2. American Cleopatra, 3. Morganite. LONG SHOT: Miss Southern Miss.

This is the big one of the day: the Grade I Del Mar Debutante. Of course, Bob Baffert has a pair in here and it’s a tough field. This filly was 7-2 in her debut, favored over impressive winner American Cleopatra, but got off to a poor start, but she came running down the lane. She has talent. The question is does she need more seasoning but the price is right.

Race 10: 1. Tribal Fighter, 2. Rye, 3. It’s The Ice. LONG SHOT: Barhanpour.

Race 11: 1. Picture Tube, 2. Gavin Streetsense, 3. Bernardjfortunato. LONG SHOT: Little Mustard.

Good luck.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Saturday, Aug. 27

Preview: The turf rails will be at 12 feet today so closers should have a shot. Jockeys Flavien Prat (16-for-69) and Rafael Bejarano (10-56) lead the way on the grass. Jockeys to avoid (maybe) are Stewart Elliott 1-for-26, Mike Smith 1-for-25 and Martin Garcia 0-21.

Race 1: 1. #3 Where’s Bubba (6-1) BEST BET, 2. Boompa, 3. Tomasino. LONG SHOT: Exemplar.

Trainer Bill Spawr is good a changing a horses distance. He is 36% when going from a route to a sprint and even more impressive when going sprint-route-sprint he is 56%.

Race 2: 1. Above Board, 2. Latest Craze, 3. Counturluckystars. LONG SHOT: Cavalry.

Race 3: 1. Masochistic, 2. Indexical, 3. Vyjack.

Race 4: 1. Vartan, 2. Dream It Do It, 3. Moose Skowron. LONG SHOT: Dynamic Scoring.

Race 5: 1. #3 Lauren’s Export (12-1), 2. Dust It, 3. Leveler. LONG SHOT: Anythingcanhappen.

Trainer Carla Gaines is 23% when debuting a horse on the turf and this daughter of Lonhro has three straight big works coming into the race. Lonhro is 13% with first-time turfers.

Race 6: 1. Hell On Heels, 2. Krisie’s Heart, 3. Passionate Emotion. LONG SHOT: Dragon Flowerr.

Race 7: 1. Nodiac, 2. Do the Dance, 3. How Unusual. LONG SHOT: Patriotic Diamond.

Race 8: 1. #5 How About Zero (6-1), 2. Miss Sunset, 3. You’re Late. LONG SHOT: I’ll Be Around.

We have seen trainer Doug O’Neill do this before: start a first-time maiden in a stakes race and he has won. This is a daughter of Square Eddie, who gets 16% winners first time out and barn jockey Mario Gutierrez takes the ride.

Race 9: 1. #8 Hansen Tale Blues (10-1), 2. Life’s Blessings, 3. Lovely Linda. LONG SHOT: Soul Singer.

Trainer Victor Garcia is 12% with first-time starters and he always seems to cash a bomber for his father King Juan Garcia, who races under the name Lucky Charm Stable. This son of Hansen has been training steadily and the sire gets 14% first time out. Follow the money.

Race 10: 1. American Aristocat, 2. Temple Keys, 3. Anatolian. LONG SHOT: Over Par.

Good luck

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Sunday, Aug. 21

Preview: Very good card, except for the Del Mar Mile, which drew just five horses, but Del Mar was smart enough to keep it out of the Pick 6. I’ll go out on the limb and say there will be a carryover into next week.

Race 1: 1. #6 Bohemian Bliss (6-1), 2. Cyclone Betty, 3. Ratera. LONG SHOT: Royal Flush Babe.
Trainer Mike Puype is 63% when he drops a horse two or more class levels. He drops this filly to the bottom of the maiden claiming ranks after a troubled sixth. At least one horse has come to win out of that race and jockey Tyler Baze stays aboard.

Race 2: 1. #5 Northern Iowa (6-1), 2. Winning Causeway, 3, Emmett Park. LONG SHOT: L’s Choice.
Trainer Vladimir Cerin moves this gelding from an open claimer to a non-winners of three for a slightly higher claiming price. He also secures the services of leading rider Flavien Prat. Cerin is 22% when a horses goes sprint-sprint-route race.

Race 3: 1. Pee Wee Reese, 2. Hot Rodin, 3. Son of a Royal. LONG SHOT: Martini Up.

Race 4: 1. Midnight Storm, 2. Om, 3. Little Curlin. LONG SHOT: Ambitious Brew.

Race 5: 1. #1 Princess Kendra (4-1), 2. Late ‘n Left, 3. Stand by for News. LONG SHOT: Truly Ponti.
Trainer Bill Spawr is 34% first off the claim, but likes to bring horses back sooner than this. Still Spawr is 21% off a 46 to 90-day layoff and this one had a troubled trip in last but Kent Desormeaux sticks. This filly is taking a drop in class from an open claimer to a non-winners of two. Sneaky.

Race 6: 1. #5 Sky Preacher (12-1), 2. Hat Dude, 3. Comes the Deam. LONG SHOT: Street Moxie.
Another horse coming off a troubled third, but trainer Richard Baltas moves him up. Baltas is 28% second off the claim. Jockey Norberto Arroyo has been sneaky good on the grass this meet.

Race 7: 1. #4 The Rule of King’s (8-1), 2. Irish Freedom, 3. Honor and Courage. LONG SHOT: Royal Mo.
This is a tough 2-year-old race but we’re going with a price as this colt has come out of a couple of highly rated races, losing to Best Pal Stakes winner Klimt and Chasing Aces, who might be the closing-day Futurity favorite.

Race 8: 1. Kentuckian BEST BET, 2. Navy Hymn, 3. Celebrated Talent. LONG SHOT: Alabama Tide.

Race 9: 1. Eric the Trojan, 2. Schillaireess, 3. Tiz a Billy. LONG SHOT: Gutsy Ruler.

Race 10: 1. #3 Celebrity Status (5-1), 2. Swiss Cheese, 3. Pat the Bear. LONG SHOT: Ain’t No Other.
This gelding is claimed back by trainer Peter Miller and owner Rockingham Ranch. Miller is 32% first off the claim and jockey Rafael Bejarano rides back.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selecttions for Friday, Aug. 19 (First post 4 p.m.)

Preview: The main track has played different on different days of the week. The track usually gets dug up after training hours on Fridays for the later post time so beware. So trainers having a tough meet on the dirt are Cesar Dominguez 0-for-14, invader Chris Hartman 1-for 12, Keith Desormeaux 1-17 and Kristin Mulhall 1-15.

Race 1: 1. Top of the Game, French General.2. Magical Mystery, 3. Bollywood. LONG SHOT: Student Body Left.

Race 2: 1. Dutt Bart, 2. Cioppino Pasadino, 3. Ninety Nine Proof. LONG SHOT:

Race 3: 1. #3 With a Twist (9-2), 2. Molly’s Honour, 3. Swiss Skimmer. LONG SHOT: General Ann.
This mare’s last race was the first time she has lost on this turf course in four tries. That didn’t stop trainer Jeff Mullins from claiming her and moving her up in class. Mullins puts apprentice Chad Lindsay aboard and I think he wants to go to the front with the rails at 30 feet.

Race 4: 1. #2 Shanghai Beauty (6-1), 2. Vow Me Over, 3. Nazareth. LONG SHOT: Mint Julep Taffy.
Trainer Bill Spawr is a master at the claiming game, winning 34% first off the claim. This filly is actually taking a class drop from an open claiming to a non-winners of two. The 3-year-old bobbled at the start and now Martin Pedroza gets aboardh.

Race 5: 1. #6 Aeon (3-1) BEST BET, 2. Fin de Semaine, 3. Moose Skowron. LONG SHOT: Broken Up.
This gelding showed improvement first time on the turf and gets a key jockey switch to master grass rider Flavien Prat. Trainer Eddie Truman is 32% third time off the layoff and the 3-year-old has that key element of speed on this turf course.

Race 6: 1. Informant, 2. Broken Marriage, 3. Gemini Journey. LONG SHOT: Hellacious Hadlee.

Race 7: 1. Fanticola, 2. Annulment, 3. Generosidade. LONG SHOT: Energia Fribby.

Race 8: 1. Alltheleavesrbrown, 2. Where’s the Moon, 3. Thesheetsguy. LONG SHOT: Valentine Boy.

@Jeff_Nahill On Twitter

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Thursday, July 28

Preview: The turf rails are out at 24 feet this week, cutting most of the fields down to 9 horses and makes frontrunners with a better shot. So far on the grass Flavien Prat leads the jockeys with five wins from 22 mounts after a slow start the first week. He’s followed by Kent Desormeaux (4-20) and Victor Espinoza (3-13).

Race 1: 1. Prohibition Repeal, 2. Sam Slick, 3. Midnight Edition. LONG SHOT: H R Express.

Race 2: 1. #2 Hennythelovepenny (7-2) BEST BET, 2. Revenue Virginius, 3. Wedding Blush. LONG SHOT: Matter of Luck.
Trainer Bill Spawr is 37% first off the claim and when he moves a horse up off the claim that’s an even better sign. This filly has the top Brisnet Early Pace Rating and look for jockey Kent Desormeaux to use that speed.

Race 3: Midnight Rambler, 2. Contemplate, 3. Smokey’s Legacy. LONG SHOT: Senator Robert.

Race 4: 1. Magical Mystery, 2. Accelerate, 3. Picture Tube. LONG SHOT: Tiz No Bluff.

Race 5: 1. Optimism And Hope, 2. Ok Doll, 3. Mitzi Winks. LONG SHOT: Paschalitsa.

Race 6: 1. #7 Dixie Dame (6-1), 2. Stand by for News, 3. Royal Flush Babe. LONG SHOT: Royal Red.
This filly is from the red-hot Phil D’Amato barn (5 for 13). She has good early speed and Tyler Baze takes over. Baze is 27% with D’Amato.

Race 7: Holograeme, 2. Dressed to a T, 3. Lily Kai. LONG SHOT: Scattagirl.

Race 8: 1. #7 Johann’s Command (6-1), 2. Malibu Dude, 3. River Hoss. LONG SHOT: Princely Warrior.
This gelding is moving up in class off a third place effort. He has speed and gets a key jockey switch from apprentice Chad Lindsay to Kent Desormeaux, who is 5-for-10 for trainer Richard Rosales.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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