Belle de Lune flew late on the outside of Mashoora to miss by just a neck to the top European filly in the Prix Imprudence (Group III) in April.
As is often the case, hype is difficult to live up to, so although bettors poured in the cash to amass a Pick-5 pool of over $2.9 million yesterday, chalky results left us cashing what ended up not even being a signer. However, the beauty of this game means today is a new day ripe with opportunity for a score that can get us excited.
Typically there is no stakes action on a Thursday, but full, competitive fields are on tap including a trio of first-level allowance optional claiming events on turf with $71,000 purses.
Three-year-old fillies start the day at 1 1/16-miles and 4-to-1 shot Belle de Lune looks to continue the solid run at the meet for trainer Thomas Proctor and Glen Hill Farm. The French-bred daughter of Ski Chief didn’t show much in her U.S. debut three weeks ago, but she’s made drastic improvement the only two times in her second start of a form cycle.
Both Doug O’Neill and A C Avila send a pair in the short field of six where none are offered for the $80,000 tag.
The O’Neill duo is seen as more formidable with 5-to-2 favorite Koko Loca and 3-to-1 second choice Ricspretentiousgal, while Avila is in his customary value spot with Tornado Allie at 9-to-2 and Viva Carina the longest shot in the field at 6-to-1.
The fourth race is a five-furlong sprint for Cal-breds with only 5-to-2 favorite Blue Jay Attack in for the $25,000 tag after drawing in from the also-eligible list. The 5-year-old son of Tribal Rule is winless over his last six starts since beating open first-level allowance company and might have a tough go of it from off the pace breaking from the far outside.
Since breaking his maiden over this main track last summer, 3-to-1 second choice Mint Humor has come up short five times, but has knocked on the door with in the money finishes coming down the hill at Santa Anita in his last three. Corey Nakatani climbs aboard the 4-year-old son of Sharp Humor for the first time and will no doubt be pressing the early pace.
The seventh race is also a turf sprint and 5-to-2 favorite Red Defense is one of three available for $40,000. The 5-year-old Cal-bred son of Redattore has turned things around in his last four starts after a long string of disappointments and makes his second start for ice cold Cody Autrey.
Fast N Furius Cat invades from Florida with a big shot at 4-to-1 for the potent duo of Peter Miller and Garrett Gomez. It’s not often we see a North Carolina-bred around these parts, but the 3-year-old Chelsey Cat colt showed flashy early speed in maiden allowance events on turf at Gulfstream Park and confidence after a romping maiden breaker when dipped in to the claiming ranks over a sloppy track at Calder in his last.
We’re off to the races!
Pick 4 -
Leg 1 – Race 5 (1,6,10) – She’s not big on winning, but will give No. 6 Saint Cindy the nod today in the third off a short layoff with Gomez aboard again. There should be a swift pace for her to chase so we’ll hope her late run doesn’t come up short again.
No. 1 Really Elegant moves back to hustling Edwin Maldanado and could slingshot to the lead around the clubhouse turn with her inside draw despite other speed in the race and No. 10 Trapper’s Reward can pack a late punch if she can save ground from the outside post.
Leg 2 – Race 6 (1,3,4,7,9,10) – Maiden allowance fillies and No. 3 Pogonip missed by a head over this strip last summer in her only two-turn try and was solid enough in her comeback effort sprinting on July 26.
However, this group is difficult to separate so we’ll also use No. 1 Acenda, No. 4 Urania, No. 7 Ghost of a Chance, No. 9 Dime Piece and No. 10 Dress the Part.
Leg 3 – Race 7 (1,2,6,8) – Add No. 1 Vaundell and No. 8 Metropolitan Man to the pair discussed above of No. 2 Red Defense and No. 6 Fast N Furius Cat.
Leg 4 – Race 8 (6,9,11,14) – No. 6 Madeoftherightstuf plummets to the bottom off four runner-up efforts against maiden allowance runners, but we’ll try to beat him with No. 9 Triumvirate, No. 11 Eyesablazin and No. 14 J Man.
Recap – (1,6,10) w (1,3,4,7,9,10) w (1,2,6,8) w (6,9,11,14) – Total cost of ticket = $144
Yesterday’s Result – (-$144)
Total for current Del Mar meet – (+$357.95)
Total from 12/26/10 – 7/15/12 – (-$1,571.15)
Pick 5 –
Leg 1 – Race 1 (2,3,6) – No. 3 Belle de Lune’s final try in Europe signals her as the one to beat, while the O’Neill pair of No. 2 Koko Loca and No. 6 Ricspretentiousgal must also be included.
Leg 2 – Race 2 (3,4,5,6,7,10) – The first of two maiden claimers for juveniles, this one a spread with fillies using No. 3 Controlled Chaos, No. 4 She’s a Go Girl, No. 5 Sense of a Woman, No. 6 Silent Ride, No. 7 Leona Pegasus and No. 10 Pursuitofparadise.
Leg 3 – Race 3 (1,2,5,8) – Cal-bred juvenile males and we use four with No. 1 Silver Lightning, No. 2 Causewere Gamblers, No. 5 Spirited Ruler and No. 8 Just Irish.
Leg 4 – Race 4 (3,5,6,9) – Along with the pair discussed above of No. 6 Mint Humor and No. 9 Blue Jay Attack, use No. 3 Daylight Storm and No. 5 Shred the Secrets.
Leg 5 – Race 5 (6) – Single No. 6 Saint Cindy.
Recap – (2,3,6) w (3,4,5,6,7,10) w (1,2,5,8) w (3,5,6,9) w (6) – Total cost of ticket = $144
Yesterday’s Result – (+$294)
Total for current Del Mar meet – (+$16,520.45)
Total from 7/20/11 – 7/15/12 – (+$1,874.55)
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Good luck!
