The Factor looks to dazzle Del Mar race goers again in today's Bing Crosby (Grade I).
Champion sprinter Amazombie sets sail on the 2nd half of his 2012 season as the 8-to-5 second choice against just four rivals in today’s $300,000 Bing Crosby (Grade I) at six furlongs on Del Mar’s main track.
As an encore to his Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Grade I) win to close last year, the 6-year-old Cal-bred son of Northern Afleet has a win along with a pair of in the money finishes in Grade II events this year. Amazombie ran third in last year’s Bing Crosby that came after a long string of races, but enters fresh today having not hit the track since a runner-up effort at Churchill Downs on May 5.
He’ll need to catch 7-to-5 favorite The Factor, who can move over the $1 million mark in earnings if he can make it 2-for-2 over this Polytrack after winning last year’s Pat O’Brien (Grade I). With Rafael Bejarano out of town, Martin Garcia is back aboard the Bob Baffert trained 4-year-old son of War Front, who returned from a disappointing trip to Dubai with a solid runner-up effort in the Triple Bend (Grade I) a month ago.
The “other” Baffert makes his stakes debut after four wins from seven starts, with Capital Account the 4-to-1 third choice off a smashing 3 ¾-length allowance win on June 22 at Hollywood Park that earned him a 108 Beyer. The 5-year-old son of Closing Argument is also perfect over this strip after winning a first-level allowance by 2 ¾-lengths in his second career start two years ago.
Comma to the Top opts for this spot at 8-to-1 and will likely get to the front early with The Factor pressing his flank and Don Tito is 10-to-1 trying his luck again in graded stakes competition after numerous disappointments at the level.
We’re off to the races!
Pick 4 -
Leg 1 – Race 7 (1,3,6) – No. 6 Lindz Winz is sure to clear to the lead on the stretch out and must be respected, while No. 3 A Jealous Woman can sit the perfect trip in second and capitalize should the front-runner fade.
No. 1 Jet Blue Girl can pick them both up stretching back out for new connections off a pair of sprints.
Leg 2 – Race 8 (1,4,5) – The top three betting choices vie to become the current fastest dude on the West Coast with No. 1 Amazombie, No. 4 The Factor and No. 5 Capital Account.
Leg 3 – Race 9 (2,5,6,7,8,9,10) – A real tricky starter allowance on turf where we super spread with No. 2 Budidnha, No. 5 Warren’s Mo Money, No. 6 Chimi Dee, No. 7 Little Emily, No. 8 Raucous Lady, No. 9 On Time Again and No. 10 Tornado Allie.
Leg 4 – Race 10 (1,8,9,10,11) – Bottom-level maiden claimers close the week and we close with five runners using No. 1 Pennies From Denny, No, 8 Pink Blanket, No. 9 Sailaway Lady, No. 10 Paris Grapes and No. 11 Lauren’s Lady.
Recap – (1,3,6) w (1,4,5) w (2,5,6,7,8,9,10) w (1,8,9,10,11) – Total cost of ticket = $157.50
Yesterday’s Result – (+$179.45)
Total for current Del Mar meet – (-$69.05)
Total from 12/26/10 – 7/15/12 – (-$1,571.15)
Pick 5 –
Leg 1 – Race 1 (5,9) – The all-important drop in class off a disappointing effort against much tougher leaves No. 5 Papa G. T. a stand out. The son of Unbridled’s Song returned to work a bullet three furlongs over this track eight days ago and the speed he showed in his first two starts puts him on the lead today.
Double up with No. 9 Move Over with a solid work tab since shipping in from Florida. Shippers from Calder have had uncanny success on the ship from the Atlantic to the Pacifc.
Leg 2 – Race 2 (3,5,6,8) – Four $25,000 female claiming sprinters with No. 3 Melissa Rose,No. 5 Church Avenue, No. 6 Real Housewife and No. 8 Folk Dancer.
Leg 3 – Race 3 (5,7) – John Sadler and Martin Garcia can win with another first-timer with No. 7 Truly Marie off a sharp work tab leading up to her debut that includes a pair of spins over this track.
No. 5 Travesura ran a solid third behind a couple of promising runners in her debut and a step forward today makes her the one to beat.
Leg 4 – Race 4 (1,2,5,6,7) – A quirky distance going real long on the lawn where we spread with No. 1 Lumberyard Jack, No. 2 Falcon Rock, No. 5 Soul Candy, No. 6 Lime Rickey and No. 7 The Unusual One.
Leg 5 – Race 5 (2,5,7,8,9) – Consecutive five packs to close the sequence with No. 2 Maker, No. 5 Man Chester Man, No. 7 Royal Import, No. 8 Warren’s Kong and No. 9 Coluda.
Recap – (5,9) w (3,5,6,8) w (5,7) w (1,2,5,6,7) w (2,5,7,8,9) – Total cost of ticket = $200
Yesterday’s Result – (-$192)
Total for current Del Mar meet – (+$16,033.45)
Total from 7/20/11 – 7/15/12 – (+$1,874.55)
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Good luck!
