Santa Anita Opinions for Sunday, April 19

Sorry no picks for Saturday, Felled by a stomach virus for the last 36 hours. Sunday is closing day of the winter-spring meet. Mandatory payouts in all pools.

Race 6: #2 Heavenly Candy (8-1)

Over the years, trainer Jack Carava hasn’t done his best work with first-out maidens, but there must be something to this offspring on Candy Ride and jockey Tyler Baze, the hottest rider on the planet takes the mount. Candy Ride is a 14% first time out sire so we’ll give it a shot .

Race 9: #8 Scuti de Patuti (4-1)

This 3-year-old filly has show improvement each time out and her best yet was a third last time down the hill. Red-hot Tyler Baze got to know her last time and she could be coming up to her best effort here.

@Jeff-Nahill on Twitter

Horse racing, Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs opinions for Saturday, March 7

Race 1: #2 Handy Candy (8-1)

Trainer Ian Wilkes sends this 3-year-old out for his 2015 debut off a three-month freshening. He comes out of an allowance race at Churchill Downs won by Dortmund and that race has produced three next out winners. This son of Candy Ride had three bullet works getting ready for this spot. Look for a big effort off the bench.

Race 4: #3 Bird Prince (8-1)

Could be a big day for trainer Ian Wilkes, or he’s prepping horses for Kentucky in a month. We’re hoping for the former. This colt has been training lights out and Wilkes puts blinkers on plus Julien Leparoux takes the mount.

Race 10: #12 Sparkling Review (turf only) (6-1)

This 4-year-old filly makes her 2015 debut, too, and she runs against older fillies and mares for the first time. She didn’t get the best of draws but she likes to come from behind so it should makes a difference for jockey Julien Leparoux.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

There is no doubt that this will be a big Saturday around the nation with graded stakes sprinkled all over the place so it’s time to put out handicapper hats on. We’ll stick mainly to the 3-year-old preps, but won’t forget the big races at Santa Anita, too.

Grade II Swale Stakes, 7 furlongs, Gulfstream Park: 1. Bluegrass Singer, 2. Ready for Rye, 3. Daredevil. LONG SHOT: X Y Jet. Comment: This race was postponed following last week’s monsoon in Florida. DAREDEVIL might be a slam dunk as he comes out of the Breeders/ Cup Juvenile, which has proven to be an ultra-key race with many winners returning. And the biggest stat I heard was that no horse has returned from that race to win a two-turn race so that fits right in with the Todd Pletcher-trainee. However, I’m going with BLUEGRASS SINGER, who is cutting back from two turns to 7 furlongs for trainer Marcus Vitali. READY FOR RYE is stretching out from 6 furlongs and figures to be tough. Just an added note: Super Colossal has scratched out of the Swale and the Tampa Bay Derby due to a spiked fever, according to trainer Edward Plesa Jr.

Grade III Gotham Stakes, 1 1/16^th mile, Aqueduct: 1. Lieutenant Colonel, 2. El Kabeir, 3. Classy Class. LONG SHOT: Tiz Shea. Comment: This race didn’t come up that tough, especially when Withers winner Far From Over decided to pass. LIEUTENANT COLONEL broke his maiden at first asking at Gulfstream Park for trainer Chad Brown. Personally, I love offspring of Colonel John that stretch out and that’s what we have here. TIZ SHEA is another horse in here off a maiden-breaking win at first asking and has been transferred to the barn of Bill Mott. Interesting.

Grade II Tampa Bay Derby, 1 1/16^th mile, Tampa Bay Downs: 1. Moonlight Bandit, 2. Ocean Knight, 3. Carpe Diem, 4. Divining Rod. LONG SHOT: Great Stuff. Comment: I’ll be honest I didn’t pick BC Juvenile runner-up CARPE DIEM due to that previous stat I mentioned and this is his first start of the year. Trainer Mark Casse has two horses in here, MOONLIGHT BANDIT and DANZIG MOON, and I’m probably picking the wrong won. MOONLIGHT BANDIT had a ton of trouble in his 2015 debut in a Gulfstream allowance and figures to improve off that effort. OCEAN KNIGHT is undefeated and tough to ignore for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

Grade II San Felipe, 1 1/16^th mile, Santa Anita: 1. Bolo, 2. Dortmund, 3. Ocho Ocho Ocho, 4. Prospect Park. LONG SHOT: The Gomper. Comment: BOLO has been a monster on the grass and now is the time to find out if he is the same on the dirt. By the sire Temple City, offspring have had no problems going two turns and have excelled going two turns. Now is the time to see how they do on the dirt. Jockey Victor Espinoza takes over for mike Smith, who is on OCHO OCHO OCHO. DORTMUND is a perfect 4-for-4, but he wasn’t supposed to run here as trainer Bob Baffert called an audible. THE GOMPER was all the talk after his maiden win, but has falter since. It’s put up or shut up time for the son of Sky Mesa here.

Grade I Santa Anita Handicap, 1¼ mile, Santa Anita: 1. Shared Belief, 2. Hard Aces, 3. Bronzo, 4. Sr. Quisqueyano. LONG SHOT: Catch a Flight. Comment: Sorry, I’m a big SHARED BELIEF fan. Just think he is the best horse in America and don’t see him losing. BRONZO finished fourth to him in the San Antonio and should show improvement. Like the two shippers HARD ACES and SR. QUISQUEYANO but only for the minor awards. Heck, second place pays $200,000.

Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar picks for Sunday, Nov. 23 (Bing Crosby Season) UPDATED

FIRST RACE: 1. Dudley Studley, 2. Guy Code, 3. Guyfromtheskyfive. LONG SHOT: Nellie Fox.

Trainer Dan Hendricks is 21% with 2-year-olds and maiden claimers. DUDLEY STUDLEY (6-1), a 2-year-old by Benchmark, has a good work coming into the race and has good win-early breeding. Apprentice jockey Drayden Van Dyke takes the mount.

SECOND RACE: 1. Mon Petite, 2. Miss Ellany (SCRATCHED) new pick: Tanquerray, 3. Zanbo. LONG SHOT: Tebowing.

THIRD RACE: 1. Hot Lightning, 2. Whoyougonnacall, 3. Slapshot Man. LONG SHOT: Sacred Temple.

FOURTH RACE: 1. Nighttiming, 2. Cacica Dulima, 3. Stole a Kiss. LONG SHOT: Lethal Story.

FIFTH RACE: 1. Candy Anniversary (best bet), 2. Mind the Master, 3. Blackford. LONG SHOT: Grandstand.

CANDY ANNIVERSARY (8-1), a 3-year-old, drops into an opener claimer for the first time and stretches out around two turns for the first time. By Candy Ride out of a Deputy Minister mare, the stretch out should be no problem for this John Sadler trainee.

SIXTH RACE: 1. El Nino Terrible, 2. Whine for Wine, 3. Kristo. LONG SHOT: Celtic Moon.

SEVENTH RACE: 1. Dancnthenightaway, 2. Backwoods Belle, 3. Cal Gal. LONG SHOT: Copperopolis.

EIGHTH RACE: 1. Red Outlaw, 2. Big Macher, 3. Soi Phet (SCRATCHED) new pick: Rousing Sermon. LONG SHOT: Magic Mark.

NINTH RACE: 1. Jomelo, 2. Dysprosium, 3. Mambo Man. LONG SHOT: Ezio.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Saturday’s top choice winners: 2 (Grand Yodeler $5.20, first race; Secretsatmidnight $4.80, seventh)

Saturday’s second choice winners: 0

Saturday’s third choice winners: 3 (Tiz Futurity $18.80, fifth; Persuasive Paul $12.40, sixth; Sayes So $7.40, ninth)

Saturday’s long shot winners: 1 (Shesheisnot $6, second)

Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita Park picks for Sunday, June 1

FIRST RACE: 1. American Pride, 2. Rusty Road, 3. Steep N Deep. LONG SHOT: Knuckle Curve.

I know Bloom Racing likes KNUCKLE CURVE, but inside post (No. 2) is a concern and so is trainer Ron Ellis’ 0-for-21 record with first-time starters.

SECOND RACE: 1. Coo Cachoo, 2. Tuckers Point, 3. Unstopper Topper. LONG SHOT: Dr. Williams.

THIRD RACE: 1. Moscato Girl, 2. L T Reckless, 3. Sensational Nikki. LONG SHOT: Lazy Daisy May.

FOURTH RACE: 1. Little Miss S (best bet), 2. Denotation, 3. Best Efforts. LONG SHOT: Southern Sunshine.

Trainer Bob Baffert scratched this 3-year-old LITTLE MISS S out of a race on Saturday to go here. The daughter of Candy Ride has been tearing up the track in the morning getting ready for her debut. Jockey Elvis Trujillo, who came from Gulfstream Park, jumps on.

FIFTH RACE: 1. Pure Tactics, 2. County Lineman, 3. Artest. LONG SHOT: Zimmer.

SIXTH RACE: 1. Yodel Up a Storm, 2. More Stormyweather, 3. Pearl de Vere. LONG SHOT: Our Glitter Ball.

SEVENTH RACE: 1. Sunny Kat, 2. J Kat, 3. Storm the Channel. LONG SHOT: A Red Tie Day.

Again Bloom Racing has thought about running A RED TIE DAY on the turf, but this is the first time. He has run into some real tough maiden heats and unfortunately draws the outside post here (No. 9) going a mile, which isn’t a good draw.

EIGHTH RACE: 1. Peacenik, 2. Chasintheaces, 3. Parliamentarian. LONG SHOT: Syndicated.

NINTH RACE: 1. Super Reagan, 2. Stealth Fighter, 3. Triunfo. LONG SHOT: Aftermarketslam.

SUPER REAGAN, a 3-year-old gelding, finished a close up fourth in this career debut at Hollywood Park. Now, after a layoff, comes back against bottom level maiden claimers. Look for jockey Elvis Trujillo to put him in the race early for train Doug O’Neill.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Saturday’s top choice winners: 1 (Screamin Earlierine #9.60, third race)

Saturday’s second choice winners: 2 (Whine for Wine $7.20, second; Schoolofhardrocks $6.20, fourth)

Saturday’s third choice winners: 3 (Hog’s Hollow $17.60, first; Scene Queen $10.20, sixth; Clubhouse Ride $15, seventh)

Saturday’s long shot winners: 1 (Room Service $6.40, eighth)

Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita picks for Sunday, Feb. 9

FIRST RACE: 1. Limited Response, 2. Ranulf, 3. Great Friends Rule. LONG SHOT: Just Win Baby.

SECOND RACE: 1. Graeme Crackjack, 2. Shadow Runner, 3. Admission. LONG SHOT: Cook Inlet.

THIRD RACE: 1. Sweet Profit, 2. Empress of Midway, 3. Faith Hope Love. LONG SHOT: Dirty Blonde.

SWEET PROFIT, a 3-year-old filly, has been working well for her career debut. The daughter of Candy Ride should be ready to go under trainer John Sadler, who wins at a 21% clip with first-timers, and jockey Kent Desormeaux is named to ride.

FOURTH RACE: 1. Smart N Dreamy, 2. Bas, 3. Heat Du Jour. LONG SHOT: Mom Nana Petrie.

FIFTH RACE: 1. Ruff Proof, 2. E Equalsmcsquared, 3. South Sound. LONG SHOT: Time for Angie.

SIXTH RACE: 1. Clear Pearl, 2. Tap the Magic, 3. Keldy. LONG SHOT: Moulin de Mougin.

SEVENTH RACE: 1. Road Ready, 2. Chief Lion, 3. Omega Star. LONG SHOT: Wine Stock.

EIGHTH RACE: 1. Purim’s Dancer, 2. Oscillator, 3. Sjy High Gal. LONG SHOT: Birdlover.

This 5-year-old mare PURIM’S DANCER loves this downhill turf course with four wins and two thirds from seven starts. She has tactical speed and drops from graded company plus she doesn’t have to face Pontchatrain. Gary Stevens takes the mount for trainer Tom Proctor.

NINTH RACE: 1. Rapit, 2. Old Pueblo, 3. Blue Cherokee. LONG SHOT: Atascaderan.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Saturday’s top choice winners: 3 (Yankee Rebel $3.20, first race; Beautiful Spirit $3.60, sixth; Trelawny $4.80, ninth)

Saturday’s second choice winners: 1 (Candy Boy $6.60, eighth)

Saturday’s third choice winners: 0

Saturday’s long shot winners: 4 (She Digs Me $10.80, third; Nashoba’s Gold $8.60, fourth; Blingo $33.80, fifth; Vagabond Shoes $7.40, seventh)

Hollywood Park, Horse racing

Hollywood Park picks for Sunday, Nov. 24

There is a $226,598 Pick 6 carryover heading into the final day of the race week.

FIRST RACE: 1. Dunmore East, 2. Macias, 3. Afleet Cowboy. LONG SHOT: Da Ruler.

SECOND RACE: 1. No Tricks for Jack, 2. Addendum, 3. Rossi Reserve. LONG SHOT: Firendesire.

THIRD RACE: 1. Need You Now, 2. Include the Aussie, 3. Judy In Disquise. LONG SHOT: Joeandbetty’sbaby.

FOURTH RACE: 1. Indianapolis, 2. Ian Street, 3. Cherubim. LONG SHOT: Frosted Boss.

FIFTH RACE: 1. Swiss Bliss, 2. Jeanne Marini, 3. Wink and Wish. LONG SHOT: Gabbiano.

SIXTH RACE: 1. Kozani, 2. Nooten, 3. My Secret Affair. LONG SHOT: Bullwhip.

SEVENTH RACE: 1. Rousing Sermon, 2. Maybe Tuesday, 3. Cyclometer. LONG SHOT: Spirit Rules.

EIGHTH RACE: 1. Luxuriance, 2. Always a Chance, 3. Promiscuoussuances. LONG SHOT: Warren’s Rosebud.

LUXURIANCE, a 4-year-old filly, is coming off her best finish (second over this course) in a long time. She ran that against open claimers and now drops into a Cal-bred allowance race. She has never been worse than third sprinting on this turf course.

NINTH RACE: 1. Sugar High Kaylin, 2. Winninginfashion, 3. Secret Memo. LONG SHOT: Amanda.

We’re at the bottom of the barrel here with $20,000 maiden claiming fillies and SUGAR HIGH KAYLIN, a 3-year-old daughter of Candy Ride, cost $100,000 at auction so she must have shown something. Her works aren’t half bad for this level and her first time out. Plus appears to be owned by trainer Doug O’Neill and his brother, Dennis. The rest of this field hasn’t shown much so either this one will win for fun or run way up the track. Let’s hope for the former.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Friday’s top choice winners: 3 (Poshsky $4.20, second race; Sidepocket Champ $21.20, third; Larocco $8.40, sixth)

Friday’s second choice winners: 1 (Meinertzhageni $14.80, fifth)

Friday’s third choice winners: 0

Friday’s long shot winners: 1 (Candy Boy $3, first)

Saturday’s top choice winners: 3 (Jonny’s Choice $9.40, second; Rhodium $6.40, third; Depreciable $6.40, fifth)

Saturday’s second choice winners: 2 (Lieutenant Seany O $9.60, first; Famous Alice $5.20, seventh)

Saturday’s third choice winners: 1 (Tamarando $7.40, eighth)

Saturday’s long shot winners: 0

Hollywood Park, Horse racing

Hollywood Park picks for Saturday, Nov. 23

FIRST RACE: 1. Being There, 2. Lieutenant Seany O., 3. Coolington. LONG SHOT: Shoemeister.

SECOND RACE: 1. Jonny’s Choice, 2. Bro’s Bro, 3. Field Report. LONG SHOT: Full Instinct.

THIRD RACE: 1. Rhodium, 2. Roust ‘Em Bertie, 3. Pretzel Logic. LONG SHOT: Two Blue Hens.

FOURTH RACE: 1. Mini Candy, 2. Another Victoria, 3. Tiz Bliss. LONG SHOT: She’s Flush.

There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of horses who can run in this 2-year-old filly maiden claimer so why not go with the fresh face like Mini Candy? This daughter of Candy Ride doesn’t have any flashy works but it does have leading trainer John Sadler and leading rider Rafael Bejarano in her corner.

FIFTH RACE: 1. Depreciable, 2. Mr. Candy Bar, 3. Husband’s Folly. LONG SHOT: Tama County.

SIXTH RACE: 1. Browsing, 2. A P Pepper, 3. Fashionably Rich. LONG SHOT: Pretty Storm.

Jockey Edwin Maldonado and his agent could have had their choice of three horses in here, two of which showed speed and fade last time out. Instead, they stick with BROWSING, a 2-year-old daughter of Dixie Chatter, which got off to a slow start but closes like an express train last time to get second against slightly easier. She has a couple of good works over the track since and looks ready to go for Sadler.

SEVENTH RACE: 1. Salsita, 2. Famous Alice, 3. Sweet as a Rose. LONG SHOT: Birthday Surprise.

EIGHTH RACE: 1. Life Is a Joy, 2. Green Mask, 3. Tamarando. LONG SHOT: Beach Hut.

NINTH RACE: 1. Moment of Weakness, 2. Affliction, 3. Red Sharp Humor. LONG SHOT: Tour Ireland.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Horse racing, Santa Anita

Updated Santa Anita picks for Friday, Oct. 4

FIRST RACE: 1.Shand, 2. Elusive Luci, 3. Patriot C H. LONG SHOT: Tizhardtoget.

SHAND faced maiden special weights last time, finishing fourth. Jockey Rafael Bejarano jumps back on the 3-year-old filly, who has a second-place finish over the track.

SECOND RACE: 1. Purim’s Dancer, 2. In the Stars, 3. Minds Eyes. LONG SHOT: A Time to Love.

You could single IN THE STARS, but this looks more like an “ALL” race in horizontal wagers, but PURIM’S DANCER returns from a layoff and she has three wins down the hill.

THIRD RACE: 1. BURNING (best bet), 2. Hobbits Hero, 3. Market Notes. LONG SHOT: Behind the Bossman.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has done this many times over the last few years: go to Florida, purchase a horse that has run and turn into a good horse, if not a superstar. Well, BURNING, a 2-year-old son of Candy Ride, doesn’t look like a surperstar, but who knows down the line. Hollendorfer obviously didn’t pay too much for this colt because he’s running him in a maiden claimer $40,000) for the first time. The key here is Burning’s first race and not his last when he ran off in the post parade, finishing last of six. In his career debut, he was second to Casiguapo, who was second in Saratoga’s closing-day Hopeful and is running in this weekend’s Champagne at Belmont Park. Jockey Edwin Maldonado climbs aboard so look for a send from the gate.

FOURTH RACE: 1. Lia Juliana, 2. Unkept Rendez Vous, 3. Eltoninadress. LONG SHOT: Warren’s Morgan.

This is a wide-open race. LIA JULIANA comes off an OK effort at Fairplex Park and jockey Joe Talamo takes over for trainer Steve Knapp. The due have won 29 percent of their races the last two years.

FIFTH RACE: 1. No Tricks for Jack, 2. Quinnette, 3. Kilted Tilt. LONG SHOT: Sydney’s Darling.

Jockey Agapito Delgadillo and trainer Victor Garcia were hot at Del Mar. Maybe they can recapture that magic with NO TRICKS FOR JACK, who is moving up in class off a Del Mar win. KILTED TILT IS SCRATCHED.

SIXTH RACE: 1. Kana Flavor, 2. Lucky Student, 3. Chumash. LONG SHOT: Run Sophia Run.

KANA FLAVOR finished third in her last at Del Mar as the 3-1 favorite. She will be looking to make amends here with Bejarano taking over for Mike Smith.

SEVENTH RACE: 1. Cinco de Mario, 2. Sinfully, 3. Very Unusual. LONG SHOT: Tommy O.

CINCO DE MARIO has never won on the dirt but has a good work over the Santa Anita surface coming into the this race for jockey Mario Gutierrez and trainer Doug O’Neill.

EIGHTH RACE: 1. Amp and Adrenalin, 2. Bipartisan, 3. Tap It In. LONG SHOT: Public Defender.

AMP AND ADRENALIN comes out of a key race. The 4-year-old gelding takes a class drop off a second-place finish.

Thursday’s top choice winners: 1 (Llandudno $11, sixth race, BEST BET)

Thursday’s second choice winners: 4 (Frandonjudge $9.80, 2^nd; Tuckers Point $7, 4^th; Scary Fast $7.40, 5^th; Rousing Sermon $8, 7th)

Thursday’s third choice winners: 2 (Big Macher $13.20, first; Candy Anniversary $8.20, 8^th)

Thursday’s long shot winners: 0

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Del Mar, Horse racing

Updated Del Mar picks for Monday, September 2

FIRST RACE: 1. He’s a Dance Star, 2. Muchos Besos, 3. Hadfunlastnight. LONG SHOT: Carbonite.

HE’S A DANCE comes back after more than a year off, but trainer Paddy Gallagher is good in that category (38%) and he gets the services of leading rider Rafael Bejarano.

SECOND RACE: 1. Money Machine, 2. Fight the Power, 3. Wildcat Candy. LONG SHOT: Indygo Andy.

This is a fairly tough maiden claimer. MONEY MACHINE has improved every time out, but trainer Peter Miller decides to drop him another level and go from a route to a sprint. Jockey Garrett Gomez will probably take this 3-year-old gelding back and make one run on the turn. FIGHT THE POWER is an invader from Oaklawn Park coming out of a key race. INDYGO ANDY is a first-timer from the John Sadler barn, which is 35% with debut maiden claimers. Also watch out for BIG MACHER and SPIRITED TOUCH, who have been working well.

THIRD RACE: 1. Tiz a Kiss, 2. Warren’s Rosebud, 3. Promiscuoussuances. LONG SHOT: Only Josie Knows.

The leading trainer (Sadler) and leading jockey (Bejarano team up here on TIZ A KISS, who tries the turf for the first time.

FOURTH RACE: 1. Salsita, 2. Amy Jane, 3. Mostro Bella. LONG SHOT: Moving Seas.

Miller holds the cards here with first-timer SALSITA and second-time runner AMY JANE. SALSITA was bred in Florida and Florida speed tends to do well at Del Mar. AMY JANE showed speed first time out, but Gomez tends to take horses back and Miller certainly doesn’t want his two horses battling each other for the lead.

FIFTH RACE (I’m Smokin Stakes): 1. AOTEAROA (best bet), 2. Better Bet, 3. Solid Wager. LONG SHOT: Easy Topper.

AOTEAROA, a 2-year-old gelding, was one of the most visually impressive juvenile winners of the meet. He was a complete nut job in the post parade and at the gate, but when the latch was thrown he was all business. Trainer Leonard Powell certainly could have taken a shot in the closing day Del Mar Futurity, but decided on this easier spot because the youngster is a gelding and he hopes to have him around for a long time. SOLID WAGER and EASY TOPPER have been scratched. Take a look at JEDI MIND TRICK instead.

SIXTH RACE (Oak Tree Juvenile Fillies): 1. E Equalsmcsquared, 2. Venetian, 3. Clenor. LONG SHOT: Nesso.

The Pick 6 starts here and there is a carryover of nearly $300,000 going into today’s program. This 2-year-old filly, E EQUALSMCSQUARED, has plenty of experience as she is going to the gate in her fifth race, but she has yet to do what she was bred for, which is to go two turns. A daughter of Einstein out of a Conquistador Cielo mare screams route race and she gets it here on the grass. Garrett Gomez takes the mount for trainer Eric Kruljac, who is also adding blinkers to his runner. STUNNING DRAMA and TIZ THE KEY have been scratched.

SEVENTH RACE: 1. Botch, 2. Ankeny Hill, 3. Too Fast to Pass. LONG SHOT: Real Heat.

The top two horses are invaders from Emerald Downs in Washington. BOTCH is from the Vann Belvoir barn and he has teamed up with jockey Chantal Sutherland for two wins this meet. ANKENY HILL has shown speed and gets the services of Bejarano.

EIGHTH RACE: 1. Faith Hope Love, 2. Belle of the Fleet, 3. Costamar. LONG SHOT: Pretty Storm.

Trainer Craig Dollase wins with 36% of his first-time starters and in FAITH HOPE LOVE he has a filly bred for speed. She has been working well and should be live. FAITH HOPE LOVE has been scratched. Take a look at GEORGIA and HONEY RIDE.

NINTH RACE (Yellow Ribbon Handicap): 1. My Gi Gi, 2. In the Stars, 3. Halo Dolly. LONG SHOT: Closing Range.

The former Palomar Handicap looks tough from top to bottom. MY GI GI finished third in the John C. Mabee to the freakish Tiz Flirtatious and should be well spotted for a big effort under new rider Gomez. HALO DOLLY is 4-for-5 on the Del Mar grass and will be tough after winning the Solana Beach last month. IN THE STARS has been scratched.

10th RACE: 1. Sudden Rumor, 2. Southern Digs, 3. Go First. LONG SHOT: Even to the Moon.

SUDDEN RUMOR was a hot commodity first time out, going off as the 2-1 favorite, but the gelding got bumped at the start and had to rally for third place. Trainer is 3-for-7 with second time starters.

11th RACE: 1. Carrytheteam, 2. Layton Register, 3. Corinthian’s Song. LONG SHOT: Power Ped.

Sadler and Bejarano team up for the entry of CARRYTHETEAM, who is making his turf debut. The son of Candy Ride should have no problem with the new surface.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Del Mar, Horse racing

Updated Del Mar picks for Sunday, Aug. 18

FIRST RACE: 1. Boller Bomb, 2. Cavalla, 3. Holiday N Newport. LONG SHOT: Buckingham Bull.

UPWARD SPIRAL was the original pick here but will be scratched from the race.

SECOND RACE: 1. Keyboard Courage, 2. Royal Meridian, 3. Peacenik. LONG SHOT: Ol’ Steely Blue.

THIRD RACE: 1. Fear the Beard, 2. A Day Away, 3. Big Wags. LONG SHOT: Rock This Way.

FOURTH RACE (Rancho Bernardo Handicap): 1. Sugarinthemorning, 2. Reneesgotzip, 3. Sweet Marini. LONG SHOT: Winding Way.

Tons of speed in this race so that’s why we went with closer SUGARINTHEMORNING. She finished second in this race last year. WINDING WAY won last year and is training well again.

FIFTH RACE: 1. My Samurai Warrior, 2. Tom’s Tribute, 3. Somethings Unusual. LONG SHOT: Trucial State.

The huge Pick 6 carryover starts with this race. TOM’S TRIBUTE is the horse to beat off his neck loss in the last and good works since. MY SAMURAI WARRIOR comes from the red hot Victor Garcia barn and apprentice Irving Orozco takes over and gets a 5-pound weight break.

SIXTH RACE: 1. Hadfunlastnight, 2. Coo Cachoo, 3. Gnarly Dude. LONG SHOT: Let’s Get Crackin.

HADFUNLASTNIGHT also comes from the white-hot Doug O’Neill barn. All O’Neill has done in the last two weeks is win 12 races to vault into second in the training standings. GNARLY DUDE drops for trainer John Sadler and has a big work since his last.

SEVENTH RACE: 1. Wild Caroline, 2. Spring Again, 3. Sunset Strip. LONG SHOT: On the Right Side SCRATCHED).

Trainer Mike Puype only wins 8 percent of the time with first-time starters, but he can still win with a good one like WILD CAROLINE. This daughter of Wildcat Heir has some nice works over the Polytrack and she’s bred to love sprinting. Florida-breds tend to do very well at Del Mar. Trainer Bob Baffert has three in here, which makes it tough. It appears SUNSET STRIP has been training the best. Sneaky horse to watch is BOSSERETTE, sired by the strong sprinter Street Boss. This filly has been owkring well, but trainer Howard Zucker is 0-for6 with first-timers.

EIGHTH RACE (Solana Beach Handicap): 1. Bella Viaggia, 3. Halo Dolly, 3. Unusual Hottie. LONG SHOT: Heat Trap.

BELLA VIAGGIA has been on the improve for trainer Mike Puype and jockey Gary Stevens takes over.HALO DOLLY is the defending champion and UNUSUAL HOTTIE finished second in this race last year. Don’t forget HEAT TRAP is from the Carla Gaines barn as Jerry Quinn is the trainer in name only.

NINTH RACE: 1. Eleven Zip, 2. Tamarando, 3. Takem by Surprise. LONG SHOT: Tribalist.

Owner John Harris tends to come out firing with his Cal-breds and ELEVEN ZIP is by the good debut sire City Zip. Works aren’t bad. Don’t know what to make of trainer Walther Solis’ pair of TIME TO GO ROBO and EVEN TO THE MOON because they are training well, but don’t know how to separate them. Check the toteboard.

10^TH RACE: 1. RED VINE (best bet), 2. Starzilla, 3. Angel Charge. LONG SHOT: Self Confident.

Trainer Christophe Clement rarely starts horses at Del Mar, especially during Saratoga, and never a maiden race. Now, a stakes race like Saturday’s win in the Del Mar Oaks with Discreet Marq is another story, but never a maiden race so it’s shocking to see this son of Candy Ride at the seaside oval until you consider owners Jon and Sarah Kelly are residents of nearby Rancho Santa Fe. Obviously, they want to see their colt run and win at Del Mar. This colt has been favored in both of its New York efforts and ridden by former Del Mar riding champion Joel Rosario. He showed a tremendous turn of foot first out and even effort last time while finishing second. This one is live and could hold the SoCal crew over a barrel. The real wild card is STARZZILLA, who has been away since Nevember, but comes out of a key race with four next out winners and she has been training pretty good.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Tag Archives: Candy Ride

Santa Anita Opinions for Sunday, April 19

Tampa Bay Downs opinions for Saturday, March 7

Del Mar picks for Sunday, Nov. 23 (Bing Crosby Season) UPDATED

Santa Anita Park picks for Sunday, June 1

Santa Anita picks for Sunday, Feb. 9

Hollywood Park picks for Sunday, Nov. 24

Hollywood Park picks for Saturday, Nov. 23

Updated Santa Anita picks for Friday, Oct. 4

Updated Del Mar picks for Monday, September 2

Updated Del Mar picks for Sunday, Aug. 18