With another opening day in the books, the majority of the focus shifts back to the females on the track.
With the madness behind us we settle in on the Thursday after, where the regulars and more intelligent folk enjoy their paradise under more peaceful conditions. Although the entries and quality are a touch light, the fields are competitive and the featured second-level allowance optional claiming five-furlong turf dash for fillies and mares with a purse of $73,000 sees a showdown of California-bred turf sprinters that have proven to be two of the sharpest acquisitions in recent months.
With 10 losses and only a maiden win to her credit, 8-to-5 favorite Sean S was purchased privately by Joshua Litt and his owners in November of last year and has subsequently won four straight races including a pair of allowances. Victor Espinoza has been aboard the 4-year-old daughter of Ministers Wild Cat in all of her recent wins and will try to guide her to victory from off the pace again today.
Since claimed by George Lopez for $8,000 on February 12, 9-to-5 second choice Sizzling Gold has also won a pair of allowances races on her way up the class ladder as part of a run of four wins in six startrs. The 5-year-old daughter of Formal Gold has sprinted on turf in her last four with three wins and a near-miss third when beaten a neck by Sean S.
Barry Abrams sends a pair, both of whom are also Cal-breds, with Magic School the 7-to-2 third choice in her third off the layoff returning to a course where she won and finished as the runner-up last summer and Lindz Winz returning at 5-to-1 after a trio of disappointing efforts in New York.
The only runner not born in California in the short field of five is the Kentucky-bred Big Honey Bee, who is the longest shot in the field at 6-to-1 making her turf debut. Claimed off Jerry Hollendorfer two starts back for $20,000, her new connections continue the ambitious class hike off a runner-up effort in her last.
We’re off to the races!
Pick 4 -
Leg 1 – Race 5 (2,6,8,10) – The top pick is No. 8 Akeela returning to the place of the majority of her success. She’s been pointed to this race since a solid third-place effort on Cushion Track and always makes a late run in the ocean air.
No. 2 Rossi Reserve gets one more shot on the drop in class after being protected by a cagey barn last time, No. 6 Hey I’m Sobaa can take advantage of speed that has scratched to potentially lead all the way and No. 10 Memo to Kathy looks for her third straight wins since Martin Garcia took over in the irons.
Leg 2 – Race 6 (2,3,4,6,7,8) – Spread in this contentious female claiming sprint with No. 2 Miss Oops, No. 3 My Gal Candy, No. 4 Amy’s Outburst, No. 6 Missdealornodeal, No. 7 So Tempted and No. 8 Indcayt.
Leg 3 – Race 7 (1,4) – The headliners keep on producing results so we’ll stick with No. 1 Sizzling Gold and No. 4 Sean S.
Leg 4 – Race 8 (2,4,6,7,9,11,12) – Another big spread with bottom-level maiden claimers in the finale using No. 2 Aunt Gert, No. 4 Kvetch, No. 6 Mile High Bunk, No. 7 Never Shea Never, No. 9 Joyfull Julia, No. 11 Molokini and No. 12 Maid of Dishonor.
Recap – (2,6,8,10) w (2,3,4,6,7,8) w (1,4) w (2,4,6,7,9,11,12) – Total cost of ticket = $168
Yesterday’s Result – (+$507.20)
Total for current Del Mar meet – (+$507.20)
Total from 12/26/10 – 7/15/12 – (-$1,571.15)
Pick 5 –
Leg 1 – Race 1 (1,2,3,6) – Four deep in the opener with No. 1 Not to Notty, No. 2 Mrs.Rosa, No. 3 Love My Girl and No. 6 My Diane.
Leg 2 – Race 2 (4,6) – With the only experience in the field, there is no doubt that No. 6 No Rachmones is going to get bet hard. But, he’s already lost three times, so we’ll take a shot with No. 4 Yankee Rebel, whose sire Yankee Gentleman has done extremely well with his siblings over this Polytrack and he got his feet wet with a four-furlong spin over the track six days ago. The glaring negative is Bob Hess Jr.’s long drought of wins with first-time starters and in the maiden claiming ranks.
Leg 3 – Race 3 (2,4,6) – No. 2 Star Vest ships in from New York off a pair of clear wins and looms the one to beat in this $40,000 claimer for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf.
Also use class droppers No. 4 Starship Flare and No. 6 She Spirit di Su.
Leg 4 – Race 4 (2,3,6) – Use the pair from Jeff Mullins with No. 2 Old Man Lake and No. 6 He’s Not too Shabby, along with No. 3 Last Equity, whose last effort was the best of the shown commodity.
Leg 5 – Race 5 (2,6,8,10) – Same four as the late Pick-4.
Recap – (1,2,3,6) w (4,6) w (2,4,6) w (2,3,6) w (2,6,8,10) – Total cost of ticket = $144
Yesterday’s Result – (-$144)
Total for current Del Mar meet – (-$144)
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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Good luck!
