Category: Blog Posts

News And Notes Closing Week Del Mar

• Del Mar ended their 7 week Summer meet with a bang on Labor Day with overall handle up 5.1% vs. last year, but more importantly, on track fatalities dropped from 17 horses, to just 4 horses. The reason for the increase in handle had to be from a field size average of 8.6, well above last year and previous years as well. Most of the increase came from back East as on track attendance was down a tad, 13,240, or 1.5%. Field size was the real plus, as this is a circuit that normally runs just 4 days a week, and of course Del Mar ran five days a week, and ended the last week running six days. The ship and win programs put in place are a big factor drawing horses from out of state. Pick six carry overs were quite regular as favorites won at a 27%

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Horses To Watch Closing Week Del Mar

PULPIT RIDER (August 31): Two year old filly for Mike Puype made start #2 on Thursday and was dead on the board going off at 13/1 in a full field of Cal bred maiden special weights. She broke running under Stewart Elliott from the two hole in this six furlong sprint on the main, sat third down the backside just off the front runners, went by them at the ¼ pole without being asked, then just exploded at the 1/8th pole to win off by eight open lengths. This daughter of Lucky Pulpit out of a stakes winning dam was cut out to be a nice horse, and she showed all of her talent today. She should be tough in Cal bred stakes down the road and is bred nicely for two turns as well. Puype has had a tough meet but this one should heal some wounds. Follow. CITY

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Del Mar Recap Closing Week

Wednesday DEL MAR Recap (8-30-17) Fast main track and firm turf course. Four¬¬ front running winners (3 duelers) on dirt (5.5f, 6f, 6f, 8f). The winning turf course running styles were a stalker at one mile, a dueling front runner at five furlongs, and a front runner at one mile (rail at 24 feet). Michael McCarthy saddled two winners. Aug 30 Claims: Race 3 – Wicked Old Fashion ($20k, Edward Freeman), On a Toot ($20k, Mike Machowsky). Race 8 – Flip the Coin Jan ($50k, Doug O’Neill). Flip the Coin Jan might be worth following after finishing a clear 2nd in the flat mile maiden claiming finale for Keith Desormeaux. Doug O’Neill nabbed him for $50k. Craft Brew was best of the rest in 3rd in his respectable SoCal bow for Vladimir Cerin. Thursday DEL MAR Recap (8-31-17) Fast main track and firm turf course. One¬¬ front running winner on

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Del Mar Recap Week 6

Wednesday DEL MAR Recap (8-23-17) Fast main track and firm turf course. One dueling front running winner on dirt (8f). The winning turf course running styles were a stalker at one mile, a patient runner at five furlongs, and a stalker at nine furlongs (rail at 30 feet). Martin Pedroza booted home a pair. Mark Glatt and Mike Pender saddled two winners. Aug 23 Claims: Race 1 – Starr of Quality ($32k, Bill Spawr). Race 2 – Gift of a Star ($25k, Jack Carava), Mining Diamonds ($25k, Craig Dollase), Sally Simpson ($25k, Vladimir Cerin). Race 3 – Orejas ($20k Richard Baltas), My Perfect Gem ($20k, Scott Rollins). Race 4 – Summer Lady ($25k, Hector Palma), Her Big Moment ($25k, Vladimir Cerin). Race 5 – Fake News ($40k, Doug O’Neill). A couple of my top choices lost and were claimed by sharp outfits. Sally Simpson (race 2) finished a distant 3rd

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Turfdom Horses To Watch Del Mar Week 6

ARTISTIC DIVA (August 24): Two year old filly for John Sadler made her debut in Thursday’s 5th, a five furlong sprint on the grass for maiden special weights. Off as the 4/5 choice in a field of 8, she broke slowly and was actually last in the early stages. She rushed up under Espinoza and was contending for the lead into the turn. She then put away the lone front runner and was drawing well clear at the wire. In spite of the slow start, she had the class to get the job done. They paid $425K for her at the Ocala two year old sale so this daughter of the good sire Munnings has a license to be a runner. She took to the turf nicely without ever having the chance to work over the surface. Not sure where Sadler will go with her next, but she is going

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Turfdom News and Notes Week 6

• After weeks of favoring early speed, the main track is finally playing fair with runners being able to win from anywhere depending on the pace picture. The track has “tightened” up and the times are getting quicker, yet still not to the degree of last year. The turf course continues to favor off the pace runners regardless of where the inner rails are placed. Here again, depending on how quick the early pace is depends on how far back the closers can win from. Horses can win on the front end going two turns, but they need a dawdling pace and no pressure up front. Even in the five furlong sprints, stalkers and closers have the edge. Overall, favorites are only winning at a 27% clip, with dirt favorites at 31%, close to the national average, while turf favorites are only at 23%, well below the national average. As

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Del Mar Recap Week 5

Wednesday DEL MAR Recap (8-16-17) Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners on dirt (both at 5.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a last-to-first closer at five furlongs, a dueling front runner at five furlongs, a patient runner at 8.5 furlongs, and a patient runner at 11 furlongs (rail at 30 feet). Hat trick for Joe Talamo. Riding double for Flavien Prat. Aug 16 Claims: Race 2 – Candyman Garret ($62.5k, Michael Pender). Race 5 – Conquest Sabre Cat ($40k, Hector Palma), Abbey Vale ($40k, Jerry Hollendorfer). Race 6 – Oasis Dream ($16k. Eric Kruljac), Jill Madden ($16k, Andrew Lerner), Anita G. ($14k, Steve Miyadi). Race 8 – Hotsy Dotsy ($20k, Hector Palma). Responsibleforlove got up to beat my top choice Place des Vosges by a head in the CTT & TOC Handicap (race 7). The winner should a new rallying dimension for Drysdale.

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How I hit the $20,000 Pacific Classic Day Pick 6 using Today’s Racing Digest data

Saturday’s Pacific Classic Day Pick 6 was a wild ride and the information found in the Del Mar Complete Digest lead me to a $20,000 score. How did I do it? Let’s recap below. Race 6 (MSW, 6f) – Winner: #5 MOONSHINE MEMORIES Primary – #6 Tyfosha Secondary – #5 Moonshine Memories, #1 Crownstone The opening leg of the Pick 6 sequence was a possible free bingo square for many handicappers and I did key logical chalk Tyfosha (field-best 119 Final Rating July 19) but I did not want the ride to end before it began. My second choice was first time starter Moonshine Memories. I first took a look at the TRD Workout Analysis and the Digest Clocker gave a positive review of her Aug 13 gate move. The Horse Comments section revealed that she was a $650,000 purchase and the dam produced five winners from as many starters

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Turfdom Del Mar Horses To Watch Del Mar Week 5

SING A SOLO (August 17): Two year old filly for Steve Miyadi made her debut in Thursday’s fifth, a five and a half furlong sprint on the main track for Cal bred maiden special weights. Off at 5/1 in a field of nine, she broke running from the rail slot, but took all the worst of it all the way around dueling down on the inside with horses outside her all the way. She looked all in at the top of the lane, but dug down and found more under Prat and raced very gamely to lose by a short nose at the wire. The winner had the ideal trip sitting just off the speed. If “Solo” can draw outside, or at least in the middle for start #2, she can find the winners circle. This daughter of Kafwain has a lot of heart. Follow. NOTED AND QUOTED (August 17):

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Turfdom Del Mar News And Notes Week 5

The main track picked up speed this past week at Del Mar as they “tightened” up the surface for their big main track stakes on Saturday. The second race on Saturday saw good allowance horses run six furlongs in 1:09 and change and the time for the Pacific Classic was right about where it supposed to be for those types of quality horses. The track has become more “fair” and it gives closers a reasonable chance if the pace is fast enough early on. That was not the case for the first four weeks of the meet. The turf course continues to favor off the pace runners but less so than it was. As the course gets worn down by the heavy usage, speed horses have a better chance of hanging on, especially if the early pace is slow. Compared to Santa Anita, this is still a long shot race

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