Racing at Del Mar with Marc Doche: Mega Dream has lots of earning to do
- Updated: August 10, 2012
Mega Dream established herself as one of the top older females on turf with her win in the Great Lady M at Hollywood Park.
Instead of the usual trek south to the seaside oval for the weekend, we’ve gone the opposite way for Egyptian Femme’s run in tomorrow’s $75,000 Wine Country Debutante at Santa Rosa.
After a break yesterday, stakes action at Del Mar resumes with fillies and mares dashing five furlongs on the turf in the $85,000 Daisycutter Handicap with Mega Dream the 5-to-2 favorite and 120-lb. high weight in search of her third win in four starts since moving to Jeff Bonde’s barn. The 5-year-old daughter of Medglia d’Oro pulled off a big upset in her last turf sprint by beating Mizdirection in the Great Lady M at Hollywood Park and followed that with a runner-up effort beaten just a head going a mile three weeks later in the Royal Heroine (Grade II).
Mega Dream was entered in Del Mar’s inaugural Paddock Sale on opening weekend, but was a buy back after the bidding only went up to $300,000. Her connections had previously turned down an offer speculated to be in the $450,000 range.
Making her first start since a runner-up effort in the Cal Cup Distaff coming down the hill at Santa Anita last October, West Ruler is the 7-to-2 second choice as one of two entered by John Sadler. The 5-year-old Cal-bred daughter of Tribal Rule tried this layout twice last summer in allowance optional claiming company, finishing third beaten half a length before notching a slim victory.
Teroda is the “other” Sadler and co-third choice at 4-to-1 returning from a brief freshening off a disappoting effort in the Great Lady M. The 4-year-old daughter of Limehouse won twice coming down the hill this winter and missed by just half a length to Unzip Me in the Wishing Well.
It’s all or nothing for Ninth Infantry, who is also listed at 4-to-1 with wins in half of her ten tries on turf and finishing off the board the other five times. With Chantal Sutherland riding in England this weekend, her streak of eight straight rides about the 5-year-old daughter of Forest Danger gets snapped with Martin Garcia taking over.
A perfect 2-for-2 at the distance against solid company in Florida and Illinois, Nechez Dawn is live at 12-to-1 with speed to spare for Bonde and his main man Edwin Maldanado in the irons. Whether trying to run this field off their feet or just ensuring an honest pace for her stable mate, the 3-year-old daughter of Indian Charlie should make her presence felt.
We’re off to the races!
Pick 4 -
Leg 1 – Race 5 (2,4,5,7,10) – Bottom-level maiden claiming fillies sprint six furlongs and we spread in the connector leg with No. 2 Pennies From Denny, No. 4 Kvetch, No. 5 Maid of Dishonor, No. 7 Medio Ciego and No. 10 Patty’s Pulpit.
Leg 2 – Race 6 (3,6) – The second of a three-race split over a few days of racing for maiden allowance juvenile fillies with another full field of debut runners.
In Sadler we trust with No. 3 Mechaya and No. 6 Imwiththeblonde, both well-bred, pricey and training well.
Leg 3 – Race 7 (1,2,3,6,7,8) – It could be as easy as No. 8 Mega Dream, but the outside post can be tricky at this short sprint distance so we’ll spread with No. 1 Ninth Infantry, No. 2 Givine, No. 3 West Ruler, No. 6 Nechez Dawn and No. 7 Teroda.
Leg 4 – Race 8 (2,4,5,8,9,11) – A grab bag $10,000 claiming sprint to close the evening and we use six more with No. 2 Street Car, No. 4 Margarita Shot, No. 5 Cayambe, No. 8 Luke’s Legacy, No. 9 Sea Rascal and No. 11 Gold Medallion.
Recap – (2,4,5,7,10) w (3,6) w (1,2,3,6,7,8) w (2,4,5,8,9,11) – Total cost of ticket = $180
Yesterday’s Result – (-$160)
Total for current Del Mar meet – (+$66.30)
Total from 12/26/10 – 7/15/12 – (-$1,571.15)
Pick 5 –
Leg 1 – Race 1 (ALL) – No. 1 Major Magic ran huge last time when be hung wide throughout and is the top pick getting a chance to save ground moving inside.
HOWever, there’s some upside to each of these runners so we’ll punch the all button.
Leg 2 – Race 2 (2,3,4,8) – A quartet of Cal-bred maiden allowance runners with No. 2 He Makes It Rain, No. 3 Cat Meeting, No. 4 Wilde Side Story and No. 8 Bringon the Wain.
Leg 3 – Race 3 (2,6) – No. 2 Miss Well Molded draw well and is set for the money run in her second over this course.
No. 6 Three Blondes can improve in her second route after just getting caught last time, but may have other speed to deal with on the front end.
Leg 4 – Race 4 (2,4) – No. 2 Easy Goes By is proven over the track and has knocked hard against allowance Cal-breds with runner-up efforts in two starts since shipping south. The added ground should be right up her ally and she faces four 3-year-olds today, while elders Church Avenue and Carrie Rose have their fair share of knocks.
The main negative for No. 4 Church Avenueis that she’s failed to run well in her last three tries at this Cal-bred allowance condition, however her sparkling record over this strip enhanced by a clear win 12 days ago makes her tough to leave out.
Leg 5 – Race 5 (2,4,5,7,10) – Same five as the Pick-4.
Recap – (ALL) w (2,3,4,8) w (2,6) w (2,4) w (2,4,5,7,10) – Total cost of ticket = $240
Yesterday’s Result – (-$144)
Total for current Del Mar meet – (+$16,886.45)
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.
Make sure to follow me on Twitter @mdoche for last minute changes caused by scratches and much more!
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For more DelMar action check out Jarrod Horak’s Pick 6 Blog.
Good luck!
3 Comments
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About Marc
Will
August 11, 2012 at 1:14 am
do you have a direct e-mail?
Will
August 11, 2012 at 1:14 am
I don’t’ use twitter, but had some horse racing related questions for ya. I really enjoy your selections.
Marc
August 11, 2012 at 11:27 am
marc_doche@hotmail.com