Another fist pump by PVal is likely if Acclamation can keep the winning streak going in today's $300,000 Eddie Read.
Champion Older Horse for 2011 Acclamation takes center stage at the seaside oval once again looking for a repeat in the $300,000 Eddie Read (Grade I) over 1/8-miles on the turf which could lead to a defense of his Pacific Classic title next month.
Against just four rivals, the 6-year-old son of Unusual Heat is listed as the even-money favorite on the morning line in search of his seventh straight front-running victory, the last three coming under Patrick Valenzuela. After retiring for the umpteenth time soon after winning last year’s Pacific Classic, PVal’s latest comeback has resulted in little success other than winning the Charlie Whittingham (Grade I) at Hollywood Park in June in Acclamation’s 2012 debut.
Wheeling back just two weeks after a disappointing fifth-place effort when shipping east for the United Nations (Grade I) at Monmouth, Slim Shadey is the 9-to-5 second choice with Garrett Gomez taking over for the first time. Since winning the San Marcos(Grade II) at Santa Anita in April, the 4-year-old British-bred son of Val Royal has finished as the runner-up in three graded stakes, including behind Acclamation in the Whittingham.
Casino Host makes his first start for Ron Ellis after previously being conditioned by Chad Brown on the East Coast and has run some races that put him in the hunt at 6-to-1. The 4-year-old son of Dynaformer won his first two starts this year, including a Grade II stake at Fair Grounds, but was hampered by bad trips in his last two. In his only try on the West Coast, he closed to finish sixth beaten just 2 ½-lengths in last year’s Hollywood Derby (Grade I).
We’re off to the races!
Pick 4 -
Leg 1 – Race 7 (3,5,6,7,11) – Spread five deep with these non-winners of two lifetime using No. 3 Gregor, No. 5 Distinctive Dude, No. 6 Kumite, No. 7 Primal Jones and No. 11 Magic Beam
Leg 2 – Race 8 (4,6,8) – No. 6 Hard to Resist has gotten real good in her last two and ran the best race of her career in a crushing win over this turf course last year.
No. 8 Halo Dolly is a win machine and also perfect in one start over the lawn here. She can lead them all the way if left alone early.
No. 4 Byrony is getting lots of hype off two wins since arriving in the U.S., but we’ll use her with caution on the class jump after not beating much.
Leg 3 – Race 9 (2,7,8) – No. 8 Adriatic Moon should prove yet another astute claim by Mike Mitchell as he drops in class on return to a surface where he’s won 3-of-4.
No. 2 Temerity owns a win over the track and also drops, while No. 8 Merkabah appears the better of the two for Dallas Keen.
Leg 4 – Race 10 (2,3,4,7,8) – Bookend the sequence with another five runners in the maiden allowance on turf with No. 2 Won Won Oh Five, No. 3 Half Strike, No. 4 Warrior’s Ridge, No. 7 Dreamcatcher and No. 8 Corinthian’s Song.
Recap – (3,5,6,7,11) w (4,6,8) w (2,7,8) w (2,3,4,7,8) – Total cost of ticket = $112.50
Yesterday’s Result – (-$157.50)
Total for current Del Mar meet – (+$221.70)
Total from 12/26/10 – 7/15/12 – (-$1,571.15)
Pick 5 –
Leg 1 – Race 1 (2,3,4,5) – No. 1 Massone has proven over again that he lacks the winning spirit and No. 6 Smoke’n Al should be wining early but is out-classed, so we’ll use the other four runners with No. 2 Boxeur des Rues, No. 3 All Squred Away, No. 4 Hoorayforhollywood and No. 5 Akkadian.
Leg 2 – Race 2 (6,7) – The drop to the bottom is key off the short break for No. 6 Patty’s Pulpit with a consistent work tab in between. This daughter of Lucky Pulpit tries a synthetic surface for the first time and her sire has dropped three winners from 11 starters over the track. Corey Nakatani takes over for Brice Blanc.
Double up with No. 7 Pumpkin Pie, who drops to the bottom and with an expected tepid pace should be closer early before making her late run.
Leg 3 – Race 3 (3,4) – We’ll tab No. 4 Casino Host as the potential upsetter with the full understanding that another win by No. 4 Acclamation at short odds is the most likely result.
Leg 4 – Race 4 (2,3,7) – Another short-priced favorite here with No. 3 Winding Way exiting a monster debut win, but both No. 2 Solar Wind and No. 7 Lanida have had success over this surface and can upset if the favorite regresses.
Leg 5 – Race 5 (6,7,8,10) – The most difficult race on the card that’s loaded with speed, so we’ll tab likely favorite No. 6 Yankee Dan as the only potential front-runner to hang on.
We prefer the runners coming off the pace with No. 7 Trucial State, No. 8 The Roan Ranger and No. 10 Major Magic, who can track just off the pace today.
Recap – (2,3,4,5) w (6,7) w (3,4) w (2,3,7) w (6,7,8,10) – Total cost of ticket = $96
Yesterday’s Result – (-$100)
Total for current Del Mar meet – (-$388)
Total from 7/20/11 – 7/15/12 – (+$1,874.55)
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Good luck!
