Tag Archives: Philip D’Amato

Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Thursday, July 21

Preview: For those keeping track, no pun intended, the main dirt track played to speed on Sunday, especially when the horse was in the two path or out further. How the track plays this week is anyone’s guess because there always seems to be a change after the two day break so check Wednesday’s results to see how the track played.
Seems like speed was again king on Wednesday, at least early on the card. Tried to beat Bob Baffert in the feature and he goes 1-2. One of those days: close but no cigar. Full picks up later.

Race 1: 1. Gunslinger, 2. Sweet Shop, 3. Far Out Kailee. LONG SHOT: Warren’s T. Baze.

Race 2 1. #3 Where’s the D (4-1), 2. Pico Chick, 3. Star of Munster. LONG SHOT: Dragon Flower.
This filly drops into a claiming race for the first time in her career, a move trainer Doug O’Neill is 20% with and she has speed, which we’ve already said is good on this track. She broke her maiden over this track and had a good work over it last week.

Race 3: 1. Te Rapa, 2. Mr T Bird, 3. Freddies Dream. LONG SHOT: Neveradoubt.

Race 4: 1. Reward of Roses, 2. Crown on Tap, 3. Kylie Informed. LONG SHOT: Broken Marriage.

Race 5: 1. #3 Warm Endowment (4-1), 2. Californiasunshine, 3. Shehastheritestuff. LONG SHOT: Malware.
Interesting move here by jockey Flavien Prat, who could have ridden another favorite in this race, but opts to ride this daughter of Unusual Heat. Trainer Dean Pederson is 21% with horses coming back in 31-60 days.

Race 6: 1. #5 Goliath’s Girl (6-1), 2. Trinitys Turn, 3. Plastered. LONG SHOT: Marell Street.
Trainer Phil D’Amato is already off to a fast start with multiple wins opening week. Here we have a fill who broke her maiden last time out and D’Amato sends her around two turns for the first time, a move he is 24% with. He also goes from an apprentice rider to Tyler Baze and they are 26% together.

Race 7: 1. #7 Mai Tai (6-1), 2. Almost Reality, 3. Summer Lady. LONG SHOT: Queenofthecastle.
This filly finished second to the talented Enola Gray first time out and then broke her maiden at second asking. Now she tries two turns on the grass for the first time. The sire Heatseeker gets 22% winners first time on the turf. Trainer Bob Hess and jockey Kent Desormeaux are a potent combination.

Race 8: 1. Star Express, 2. Five Star Jack, 3. Big Bad Jon. LONG SHOT: Squash.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Wednesday’s top choice winners: 1 (Spicy Blonde $3.60, fourth race)

Wednesday’s second choice winners: 4 (Allthatnmore $6.60, second; Marriedtoaminister $5, third; Chao Chom $4.60, sixth; Pretty N Cool $8, seventh)

Wednesday’s third choice winners: 0

Wednesday’s long shot winners: 0

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Horse racing, Los Alamitos

Los Alamitos thoroughbred picks for Saturday, July 5

FIRST RACE: 1. Oeighter, 2. Super Defence, 3. Desert Madam. LONG SHOT: My Sweet Afleet.
Trainer Philip D’Amato, who took over the barn of Mike Mitchell, won four races on closing day last Sunday at Santa Anita and looks to keep the roll going with OEIGHTER, a daughter of Tale of the Cat. D’Amato goes first-time blinkers (2-for-4) and top barn rider Joe Talamo (24%) stays aboard.

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SECOND RACE: 1. Hollanita, 2. Queen of the Hill, 3. Courageousandbold. LONG SHOT: Milady Maid.

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THIRD RACE: 1. Arkenstone, 2. Got Even, 3. I Don’t Care Who. LONG SHOT: Tres Borrachos.

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FOURTH RACE: 1. No Ez Money, 2. Grand Humor, 3. Johns Journey. LONG SHOT: Storm Bid.

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FIFTH RACE: 1. Tiznow Or Tehn, 2. Sudden Rumor, 3. Go Black Tie. LONG SHOT: Take a Risk.

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SIXTH RACE: 1. Radiant Dancer (best bet), 2. Prontezzo, 3. Opsec. LONG SHOT: Good Deal.

Trainer Jeff Bonde is 28% with first-time starters and RADIANT DANCER, a son of Langfuhr, has been tearing up the track in the mornings at Santa Anita. Speed jockey Edwin Maldonado jumps on so it looks like a send job from the outside post.

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SEVENTH RACE: 1. Appealing Resume, 2. Creditcardroulette, 3. Rhodium. LONG SHOT: Sydney’s Darling.

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EIGHTH RACE: 1. Top Fortitude, 2. Shared Belief, 3. Candy Boy. LONG SHOT: Can the Man.

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NINTH RACE: 1. Swiss Intrigue, 2. Grace Victoria, 3. Yodelmesomemagic. LONG SHOT: Lucky S.J.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Friday’s top choice winners: 2 (Wicked Heat $3.60, first race; Amina Perfect $22, eighth)

Friday’s second choice winners: 0

Friday’s third choice winners: 2 (Colorado Strong $4.80, first; Brannaman $9.40, sixth)

Friday’s long shot winners: 2 (Leedstobeaver $11, fourth; Shh She’s Ours $6, fifth)

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Horse racing

Updated Del Mar picks for Wednesday, Aug. 7

FIRST RACE: 1. A TOAST TO YOU, 2. Summer Exclusive, 3. Et Tu Walker. LONG SHOT: Depreciable.

Trainer Peter Miller would appear to hold all the cards in this race with both A TOAST TO YOU and SUMMER EXCLUSIVE. A TOAST TO YOU is the preferred pick here because the 4-year-old has a win over the course at this distance. SUMMER EXCLUSIVE is a 3-year-old running against older, but he has been training at Del Mar while his stablemate has been at Hollywood Park. DEPRECIABLE is a first-time gelding and those horses have been popping up at big odds at the meet.

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SECOND RACE: 1. Sudden Rumor, 2. Smogcutter, 3. Onebadshenanigan. LONG SHOT: Ashleyluvssugar.

Jockey Martin Garcia is the key to this race. He rode SMOGCUTTER in his debut on July 21 for trainer Bob Baffert, yet he decides to jump on first-time starter SUDDEN RUMOR for trainer Phil D’Amato, who has two first out winners in 10 tries.

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THIRD RACE: 1. Spring Breeze, 2. Addendum, 3. Queen of the Hill. LONG SHOT: Sean S.

The huge Pick 6 carryover starts here. Trainer Jeff Bonde tries to get some of that “Ship and Win” bonus money with SPRING BREEZE, who has been running in the East. The daughter of Congrats finished second last time on the turf, but she shows one synthetic track victory out of two attempts and appears to be training well on the Del Mar Polytrack. ADDENDUM is a horse for the course and QUEEN OF THE HILL has been training well at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park for her first race since May 26. Jockey Kayla Stra shows a win in the only time she rode QUEEN OF THE HILL.

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FOURTH RACE: 1. Quick Navigator, 2. Exotic Behavior, 3. Sierra Electrica. LONG SHOT: Clenor.

The 2-year-old fillies get their first chance to go around two turns on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. QUICK NAVIGATOR is by Henrythenavigator and has every right to enjoy this trip for trainer Mike Puype. CLENOR has raced three times at shorter distances in Europe and figures to be the favorite.

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FIFTH RACE: 1. Take One, 2. Slewthatflew, 3. Pining Play. LONG SHOT: Derek’s Girl.

There’s not much good form in this maiden claimer for 2-year-old fillies. When that is the case, you might as well try a fresh face. TAKE ONE is from the Adam Kitchingman barn, which struck with a first-time starter earlier in the meet. SLEWTHATFLEW showed an even effort in her debut and figures to improve. DEREK’S GIRL is another first-time starter and jockey Chantal Sutherland-Kruse jumps aboard.

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SIXTH RACE: 1. Ismene, 2. Charm the Maker, 3. Tribal Gal. LONG SHOT: Minds Eyes.

Looks like a tough race here for fillies and mares. ISMENE and CHARM THE MAKER both shows wins over the Polytrack. ISMENE likes to use her speed while CHARM THE MAKER comes from behind in her races. TRIBAL GAL is a 3-year-old taking on older for the first time and she also has a win over the Polytrack.

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SEVENTH RACE (The Grade II Sorrento): 1. Concave, 2. Stop Smiling, 3. She’s a Tiger. LONG SHOT: Love Smitten.

The 2-year-old fillies prep for the Del Mar Debutante at 6 ½ furlongs on the Polytrack. CONCAVE broke her maiden on the Hollywood Park grass going short for trainer Doug O’Neill, but she is bred to go longer, being a daughter of Colonel John. STOP SMILING and SHE’S A TIGER just finished second and first, respectively, in the Landaluce at Hollywood while LOVE SMITTEN ships in from Presque and has a win on a synthetic surface.

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EIGHTH RACE: 1. Sri’s Red, 2. Kana Flavor, 3. That’s a Bingo. LONG SHOT: Warren’s Dixi Bell.

In this maiden special weight for Cal-bred fillies and mares we have horses with records of 0-for-12, 0-for-15 and 0-for-21 so we are looking for a new face. SRI’S RED was training great for trainer Carla Gaines before Gaines began serving a suspension last week. Jerry Quinn is in charge of the barn now, but it looks like Gaines may have this one ready to first at first asking. WARREN’S DIXI BELL comes out a key Jan. 26 race at Santa Anita which has produced four next out winners. The daughter of Affirmative gets jockey Patrick Valenzuela, who is looking for his first winner since returning over the weekend.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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