Racing at Del Mar with Marc Doche: Generous Portion purse certainly that

We’re into the home stretch with the final week of a meet that’s exceeded expectations with the quality of racing. That’s no different today through a competitive eight-race card highlighted by a juiced up purse for 2-year-old California-bred fillies sprinting six furlongs on the main track in the $150,000 Generous Portion Stakes.

Tilde is the 5-to-2 favorite having been kept busy in the a.m. with five local spins since winning the CTBA Stakes by over three lengths on July 20. Leading pilot Rafael Bejarano remains aboard the daughter of Swiss Yodeler looking to pull within one stakes win of tying the record for a meet of 12.

The morning activity for co-second choice at 3-to-1 Tribal Gal is the extreme opposite, having not recorded a work since July 4. The daughter of Tribal Rule debuted in third at Hollywood Park on July 14, behind today’s other 3-to-1 choice Bert’s Altercation, before breaking her maiden by over two lengths over Del Mar’s Polytrack on August 12.

Bert’s Alercation has also worked steadily since that win at Hollywood Park that came with Bejarano in the irons, but moves to Garrett Gomez today. The Bertrando filly was the odds-on favorite in the only race of her career and will likely have to be sent to the front early after drawing the one hole.

We’re off to the races!

Pick 4 -

Leg 1 – Race 5 (1,5,6,8,12) – Spread with five maiden allowance fillies using No. 1 Elusive Jackpot, No. 5 Chloe W, No. 6 Point Cadet, No. 8 Wunderbar and No. 12 Princess Ash.

Leg 2 – Race 6 (2,3,5,8,9) – Five more here with Cal-bred allowance runners at a mile on turf using No. 2 Milazzo, No. 3 Sizzlin’ Joe, No. 5 Cat Meeting, No. 8 Excessive Assault and No. 9 Huntsville.

Leg 3 – Race 7 (1,5,7) – We know all too well that anything can happen with 2-year-old fillies, but we’ll stay chalky with the trio of No. 1 Bert’s Altercation, No. 5 Tribal Gal and No. 7 Tilde from above.

Leg 4 – Race 8 (1,2,6,8,11) – It’s startling to see a $400,000 yearling debuting at the bottom in for $20,000, but No. 8 Light Up has potent connections on his side with Bob Baffert and Bejarano.

Add No. 1 Mary Helen’s Storm, No. 2 Valen, No. 6 Chasing the Heat and No. 11 Sparkle Joel.

Recap – (1,5,6,8,12) w (2,3,5,8,9) w (1,5,7) w (1,2,6,8,11) – Total cost of ticket = $187.50

Sunday’s Result – (-$80)

Total for current Del Mar meet – (-$515.70)

Total from 12/26/10 – 7/15/12 – (-$1,571.15)

Pick 5 –

Leg 1 – Race 1 (7,8,9) – Expect a much improved effort from No. 9 Gypsy Kitty getting off the rail and adding blinkers for her second career start.

No. 8 Gypsy Kitty is strictly the one to beat if she runs back to her start from two races back and No. 7 Sweet Saturday is worth inclusion at a price in her debut.

Leg 2 – Race 2 (2,4,7) – If she’s on her game, No. 2 Van Brit wins, but she has shown a tendency to regress after big efforts so we’ll add No. 4 Skinny Genes cycling into a good effort and No. 7 Carrie Rose with the potential to be lone speed.

Leg 3 – Race 3 (2,8,11) – No. 8 True again is another runner getting off the rail in his second career start and moves to Bejarano, while No. 2 Ukraine James drops from allowance company and should show speed again today with the addition of blinkers.

No. 11 Primed and Ready draws in and is an obvious contender off a trio of runner-up efforts to begin his career.

Leg 4 – Race 4 (3,4,8) – No. 3 Gregor improved to miss by just a neck in his second off the layoff despite a rail draw and should be right there again after tracking behind the leaders early.

No. 4 You’re Joking exits an impressive maiden win over this strip against bottom-level claimers and No. 8 Big Business drops, cuts and wheels back in six days off a pair of solid efforts over this track.

Leg 5 – Race 5 (1,5,6,8,12) – Same five as Pick-4.

Recap – (7.8.9) w (2,4,7) w (2,8,11) w (3,4,8) w (1,5,6,8,12) – Total cost of ticket = $202.50

Sunday’s Result – (-$96)

Total for current Del Mar meet – (+$16,657.60)

Total from 7/20/11 – 7/15/12 – (+$1,874.55)

Best Bet of the Day – Can now be found in the free analysis section at www.theracingedition.com along with an early Pick-4 ticket and a consensus box for the entire card.

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For more Del Mar action check out Jarrod Horak’s Pick 6 Blog.

Good luck!