Del Mar Daily Notebook

DEL MAR DAILY NOTEBOOK

SUNDAY, JULY 22, 2007

by Brian P. Turner

Sunday brought the first Grade 1 stakes offering of the meet as a small field

of five went to the gate for the Eddie Read H., which was contested at nine

furlongs over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. AFTER MARKET (Storm Cat) was sent

to the gate as the favorite as he attempted to reel off his third graded stakes

victory in a row. In his latest effort, the dark bay rallied from 9 1/2 lengths

off the early lead to bring home the victory in the Charles Whittingham Memorial

H. (G1) at Hollywood. The four-year-old colt had been showing improvement in

each start this year since moving into the barn of trainer John Shirreffs, and

there appeared to be no reason that the trend would not continue.

When the gates sprang open, Out of Control (Brz) (Vettori) and Rob Roy (Lear

Fan) immediately jumped out to vie for the lead. After Market was content to lay

in a nice stalking position just off the pace. The trio covered the first

quarter in a dawdling :25 but sped things up from there as the half went in :48

4/5, by which time they had left the other two members of the field far behind.

Once they hit the stretch, Out of Control made a mad dash for the finish line

and it briefly appeared as if the slow first quarter may contribute to him

stealing this race on the lead. After Market still had plenty left in the tank

though, and once he kicked it into gear, the colt absolutely engulfed the two

front runners and finished impressively through the stretch to hit the finish

line 1 1/2 lengths in front, stopping the clock for the nine furlongs in 1:47

1/5.

Out of Control, who was coming off a game victory in the American

Invitational H. (G2) at Hollywood, fought valiantly to the wire and finished

second, 3 3/4 lengths in front of Rob Roy in third.

Also on Sunday, a field of 10 contested the Fleet Treat S. for Cal-bred

three-year-old fillies going seven furlongs on the Polytrack. Several in the

field appeared to have a legitimate shot of claiming the victory, but the

betting public elected to send Swiss Diva (Swiss Yodeler) to the gate as the

heavy favorite. The chestnut had hit the board only once in four starts this

year, but the bettors obviously believed that this was the spot to turn things

around. The second choice was Romance Is Diane (In Excess [Ire]), and she was

another in the field trying to get back on track as she was winless since taking

the Hollywood Starlet S. (G1) in her freshman season.

After laying off the pace early through opening fractions of :22 3/5 and :46

2/5, that pair moved into contention in the stretch drive, and it appeared they

would duel to the wire when SPENDITALLBABY (Unusual Heat) made a tremendous move

along the rail and got up in the final strides to hit the finish line in front

by a neck. Swiss Diva hit the wire in second, a head in front of Romance Is

Diane in third.

In addition to the Fleet Treat, there were three sprints contested over the

Polytrack Sunday, with horses closing from off the pace winning two of them. As

for the three routes, closers won all of them. In addition to the featured Eddie

Read, there was one other turf route which was won by a horse pressing the early

pace.

Michael Baze booted home a winner on the day and still leads the way in the

jockey standings with eight for the meet. Victor Espinoza went winless on the

day but remains in second with six. Joe Talamo lost his apprentice weight

allowance as of Sunday and celebrated by booting home three winners on the card,

which moves him into a tie for third with Corey Nakatani. The pair has five

winners each.

In the trainer standings, Peter Miller's lone entry on the day was also

eligible and did not draw in, but he still leads the way in the trainer

standings with four winners for the meet. Bobby Frankel's lone runner did not

make it into the winner's circle, but he remains in second with three.

Pick 6 players get ready, as no one put all the pieces of the puzzle

together today, which leaves a carryover of $206,864 going into Monday's card.

Horses to Watch

1ST - DEMON INSIDE (In Excess [Ire]) found the drop down to state-bred

competition to be exactly what he needed to get into the winner's circle in his

second career start. The dark bay was content to lay off the pace early through

opening fractions of :22 2/5 and :46 2/5 before unleashing a nice closing move

through the stretch to hit the finish line in front by a head. It appeared that

he may be stripped of his victory as he broke in sharply in at the break, making

contact with the runner to his inside. This prompted a look by the stewards

after the race, but the order of finish remained unchanged.

3RD - After Market was extremely impressive in victory in the Eddie Read. The

connections have indicated that they are considering the Arlington Million (G1)

for his next start and there appears to be no reason at all that he can't

continue his winning streak.

Tomorrow's Outlook - Monday, July 23

Monday's 7TH race is an allowance event for three-year-olds and up going 1

1/16 miles on the lawn. This event appears to be completely wide open and it

wouldn't be surprising to see virtually any member of the field in the winner's

circle at the end. SOAR WITH EAGLES (Kingmambo) was Group 2-placed in Ireland

but disappointed in a major way when he was sent off as the even-money favorite

in his North American debut at Hollywood in June, beaten by six lengths in

fourth. If he returns to the form he showed in Europe, the bay will be

dangerous.

OPTIMER (Arg) (Incurable Optimist) has been knocking on the door as of late

but just hasn't been able to pick up a victory since coming to North America.

The dark bay came up only a head short in three of his last four starts, and the

connections have to be wondering exactly what they have to do to finally get his

picture taken. HEATED REBEL (Unusual Heat) is another who has been coming close

as of late but just can't quite seal the deal. The bay is exiting a third-place

effort at Hollywood in which he rallied from six lengths off the early lead to

miss by a length at the wire.

Those looking for value may consider BRONZINO (Holy Bull), who will be making

his first start since breaking his maiden in December. The chestnut has been

working steadily for his return, and trainer John Shirreffs is always dangerous

off the break.

Monday's Best Plays

2ND - FIESTY ROSE (Boundary) will be dropping back into claiming company

after a couple of respectable efforts against starter allowance company. The

three-year-old filly should find the company in this event a bit easier overall

than what she has been facing and could be set for a return to the winner's

circle. The dark bay tops the field in BRIS Prime Power by more than three

points, her BRIS Class rating is near the top of the field, and her best BRIS Speed ratings are on par with the best of these. Toss in the fact that she

comes from the barn of the always dangerous Art Sherman and there is a lot to

like.

3RD - ELECTRIC DAZE (Gilded Time) will be trying fellow state-breds after

coming up only three lengths short against open company at Hollywood in June.

The two-year-old filly ran evenly in that event and should move forward off the

effort. The BRIS Speed rating she posted tops the field among those who have

started and the fact that she is trained by the always dangerous Doug O'Neill

and will have Corey Nakatani in the saddle only adds to her appeal.