GINGHAM (August 29): Two year old filly for Bob Baffert made her debut in Thursday’s second, a maiden special weight event at a mile on the main track. After a lot of late action, she went off as the 7/5 choice in a field of 7 and was fifth into the clubhouse turn. She maintained that position down the back side, took the overland route turning for home, then really kicked it in the final 1/16 to gain second, beaten a length and a half. She galloped out strong past the wire and easily passed the winner. This daughter of the good sire Quality Road cost $420K at the Keeneland yearling sale and she has the look of a runner. It’s very hard to break your maiden going two turns in your debut, and even the great Baffert seldom does. She’ll be much tighter for start #2 and should be

QAHIRA (August 22): Three year old filly for Bob Baffert tried the second allowance condition for older fillies/mares at 7 furlongs on the main Thursday. Off at 2/1 and the second choice in the wagering, she got bumped around at the start to be away last in a small field of five runners. Talamo then had to rush her up by the half mile pole to get her back in the race as the heavy favorite was getting away on an easy lead. She caught the favorite at the top of the lane but used a lot of energy at this point of the race, and looked like dead meat at the 1/8th pole. But she still had more to give, found another gear, and pulled away to win by two and a half at the wire. It was not a good trip but she still won quite easily in

BE A SHERO (August 15): Three year old filly for Jeff Mullins was pretty much a disappointment as a juvenile, so they gave her 10 months off and she surfaced in this maiden special weight at 5/8 on the grass Thursday for 3 and up. Off at 8/1 in a field of 8, she broke well under Baze from the 2 hole and he kept her on the rail the entire trip. She was five lengths back at the ¼ pole and typical Baze, he was trying to come through on the fence even though no hole existed. He did force his way through at the 1/16 pole and the filly responded with a big finish, but the favorite got first jump on her from the good outside and she had to settle for second, though just beaten a half at the wire. She galloped out very strong, well past

TRIBALS LAST REIGN (August 8): Four year old gelding for Craig Dollase made his long awaited debut on Thursday in a maiden special weight event at 5/8 on the turf for Cal breds 3 and up. Off at 7/2 in a 9 horse field, he had a miserable trip to say the least. He broke slowly and awkwardly from the two hole under Maldonado to be away last. He was still near the rear of the field and bottled up down on the rail at the 3/8 pole, where he checked and lost some momentum. He finally got some clear running by the ¼ pole, and made a huge move around horses to reach contention, though he was fanned five wide turning for home. Then he “hung” in the final furlong, but still was in the photo for second beaten three at the wire. This son of the great California

TOO HOT FOR CURLIN (August 2): Three year old filly for Phil D’Amato made her debut on Friday at a mile on the lawn for Cal bred maiden special weights, 3 and up. Bet down to the 4 to 5 choice off a series of strong drills, she was totally void of any early speed and was dead last into the clubhouse turn. She was 12 back by the half mile pole, but then was put under a drive by Prat and started picking off runners and was third by the top of the lane. She tried to gain ground on the lonely leader but just had too much work to do and “hung” in the final eighth, while lugging out as well. She finished third beaten a length and a half at the wire. It’s always tough to win your debut when going a route of ground, but this

CELLAR DOOR (July 25): Four year old filly for Jeff Mullins made her long awaited debut on Thursday in a maiden special weight affair at 5/8 on the turf for 3 and up. Off at 4/1 in an 8 horse field, she came away a step slow from the gate and was well back early from the six hole. She started a run at the ¼ pole, found a seam at the top of the lane, then finished with good courage to get second, beaten a length at the wire by the favorite, who out finished her in the lane. She was very fractious in the gate and took quite some time to load. She was a hot item on the board getting plenty of early action. She is bred to go long, can handle either surface, and she should get her diploma here at this meet for a barn

THANKS MR. EIDSON (July 18): Two year old colt for Jeff Bonde made his third career start in Thursday’s opener at 5/8 on the main track. Off as the 4/5 wagering choice in a field of six, and adding blinkers for the first time, he came away running from the 3 hole and got into a speed duel with a Baffert runner for the first two furlongs. He put him away at the 3/8 pole, then opened up and found another gear when another runner loomed at him at the ¼ pole. He eased clear to win by 7 and it was even further than that on the gallop out. This race was for a $150,000 claiming price but it was like a maiden allowance race. This one is ready for stakes competition as the blinkers really helped. Up the ladder. For what it’s worth, this horse is named for

OIL CAN KNIGHT (June 21): Three year old gelding for Doug O’Neill got away slowly in this 5/8 run on the turf for maiden claimers for a $75K tag in Friday’s opener. Off at 9/2 in a 9 horse field, he hesitated at the start from the 9 hole, then was rushed up by the rider Cedillo and was actually fighting for the lead by the ¼ pole. He dug in gamely down the lane, looked like a winner at the 1/16 pole, then got nailed right on the wire for the win. This was his 1st start on the turf and he showed a liking for the surface. They will run these 5/8 sprints on the grass at Del Mar and “Oil Can” is sitting on a win for the leading barn at the meet. CLEM LABINE (June 22): Three year old gelding, named for the former Brooklyn Dodgers

OPUS WON (June 14): Three year old filly for Richard Baltas tried the first allowance condition for Cal breds in Friday’s opener and was bet down to the 6/5 choice in a field of six at a mile on the lawn. She broke well under leading rider Flavien Prat and sat a comfortable third down the back side. However, the fractions were on the slow side and the leader got away with a crawling first quarter and had plenty left in the tank turning for home. Opus Won got floated five wide at the top of the lane while making her bid, put in a good run down the lane but came up a length short at the wire. She ran good enough to win this condition and she’ll probably get the job done next time out, her third start off the layoff. Be ready. HIGHER POWER (June 14): Four

GOODTINGSCOMINPINK (June 7): Three year old filly for Vladimir Cerin tried straight maidens in Friday’s opener 3 and up of the Cal bred variety. Off as the odds on post time favorite at 4 to 5, she lagged well back in the pack down the back side about six lengths off the pace. Fuentes kept her on the rail throughout and she was loaded at the top of the stretch. She found a seam and finished strong down on the fence, but was on the slower footing and a filly rallied out in the middle of the course and nipped her by a nose right on the wire. It was three back to the third place finisher. She did hurt her chances down the lane by lugging out badly and was lucky she didn’t get disqualified. She’s sitting on a win for Cerin but she’s one that needs to race