Del Mar Daily Notebook

DEL MAR DAILY NOTEBOOK

MONDAY, AUGUST 14, 2006

by Brian P. Turner

A field of six went to the gate for Monday's 7TH race, an allowance/optional claiming

event for three-year-olds and upward going six furlongs on the main track. Paddy

Murphy (Forest Camp) was sent to the post as the favorite off his impressive

victory last out at Hollywood where he pressed the pace early before scampering

away from the field in the stretch drive for a solid 4 1/2-length victory.

When the gates sprang open in this event, BUSHWACKER (Outflanker) bounded out

onto the lead with Paddy Murphy pushing him every step of the way. The pair

guided the field through early fractions of :22 1/5 and :44 4/5 before hitting

the stretch drive in exactly the same position as they started. Try as he might

though, Paddy Murphy could not run down the pacesetter. Bushwacker crossed the

wire in front, stopping the clock for the six furlongs in 1:09 2/5, a neck in

front of Paddy Murphy.

It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Sunshine Alpine (Gold Case), who closed

from well off the pace, in third.

There were five sprints contested on the main track Monday with horses on or

near the pace winning three of them. As for the two dirt routes, one was won by a

horse pressing the pace while the other was won by a runner closing from just

off the pace. The lone turf route on the day was won by a horse closing from off

the pace.

Doug O'Neill sent out three runners today with two of them visiting the

winner's circle and still leads the way in the trainer standings with 14 for the

meet. Jeff Mullins did not fare well with his lone starter on the day and

remains in second with 10. None of the trainers sitting in third saddled a

winner today so there is still a four-way tie between Jerry Hollendorfer, Mike

Mitchell, Neil Drysdale and John Sadler. The four trainers have six winners

each.

Victor Espinoza added a win to his total today and remains in the top spot in

the jockey standings with 34 winners for the meet. Martin Garcia added one onto

his total today and remains in second with 23. Alex Solis added one as well

today to keep pace in the third spot with 21.

Horses to Watch

2ND - QUIET KIM (Real Quiet) returned from vacation in fine form in this

allowance/optional claiming event. The bay was content to lie between two and

three lengths off the lead through opening fractions of :23 4/5 and :48 1/5.

Once the field hit the stretch, the three-year-old filly moved up to take

command and widen her advantage from there to cross the finish line 4 3/4

lengths in front under nothing but a hand ride.

6TH - GLIMMERING PETE (Larry The Legend) put in a very nice effort in his

first attempt on the grass and going a route of ground. The chestnut was lying off

the early pace through opening fractions of :24 and :47 3/5. Once the field hit

the stretch, the three-year-old gelding unleashed a nice closing move but ran

out of ground and was forced to settle for third, beaten by only a length.

Outlook for Wednesday, August 16

A field of eight has been entered

in Wednesday's Green Flash H. for three-year-olds and upward going five furlongs

over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. This is a particularly hard race to get a

feel for as many of the more accomplished runners in the field have yet to try

the turf in their careers. Of those that have tried the grass, OSIDY (Storm Cat)

is definitely the most accomplished. The bay won the 2005 running of the Will

Rogers S. (G3) at Hollywood before coming back two starts later to miss by a

length in the Del Mar Derby (G2). Though his most respected efforts have come

while competing in route races, he does hold a record of 2-1-0 from three starts

at this distance.

THOR'S ECHO (Swiss Yodeler) definitely looms a threat should he take to the

new surface. The chestnut has been a model of consistency over the course of his

career as he always puts in a hard fought effort. The four-year-old gelding will

be making his first start since competing in Dubai back in March where he

finished second, beaten by only 1 1/4 lengths, against some of the best

sprinters in the world. Thor's Echo has been working forwardly for his return to

the track and definitely looms as a major threat.

CARTHAGE (Smoke Glacken) had reeled off five impressive wins in a row before

faltering badly last out in the Bing Crosby H. (G1) here on July 30. The gelding

is another who will be making his debut on the lawn but his dam has thrown only

one turf winner from 10 starters and Smoke Glacken's progeny only win 3 percent

of their starts when trying the grass for the first time.

RAILROAD (Double Honor) has had some success on the lawn in the past which

includes a win at this distance two starts back against stakes company. Though

he was well beaten here against optional claiming company last out, the turf is

definitely his preferred surface and he is capable of having an impact at what

should be a square price.

Wednesday's forecast calls for sunny skies and highs in the upper 70s.

Wednesday's Best Plays

3RD - MY MISS STORM CAT (Sea Of Secrets) will be making her first start since

the end of May but should dominate this six-furlong optional claiming event. The

four-year-old filly is definitely the speed of the field and her BRIS Pace

rating indicates that she should have things her own way on or near the lead

early which will leave jockey Espinoza plenty left in the tank for the run to

the finish line. The dark bay ran well in her only other trip to Del Mar where

she absolutely crushed an allowance field by six lengths while posting a very

impressive 105 BRIS Speed rating. My Miss Storm Cat has a nearly six point

advantage in BRIS Prime Power and her BRIS Class rating also tops the field. It

would definitely be a surprise to see her beaten in this spot.

4TH - JOHN THE MAITRE D (Silky Sweep) will be looking to reel off his second

win in a row since moving into the barn of Rafael Becerra in this six-furlong

starter allowance event. The chestnut is coming off a game victory against

maiden claiming company last out where he dueled through a quick early pace

before opening up in the stretch drive for a respectable 1 1/4-length victory.

The BRIS Speed rating earned in that event labels him a threat here and he is

near the top of the field in BRIS Prime Power. The fact that Espinoza has taken

the call on the mount, and that Becerra wins 27 percent of his starts in the "Maiden

Winner Last Race" trainer category, only add to the list of things to like.