Del Mar Daily Notebook

DEL MAR DAILY NOTEBOOK

SUNDAY, AUGUST 5, 2007

by Brian P. Turner

Sunday's featured stakes offering was the Clement L. Hirsch H. (G2) for

fillies and mares, three-years-old and up, going 1 1/16 miles over the

Polytrack. A mere field of four went to the gate, with NASHOBA'S KEY (Silver

Hawk) being sent off by the betting public as the favorite as she put her

undefeated record on the line. In her latest effort, the four-year-old filly had

stalked the pace early on her way to a determined three-quarter of a length

victory in the Vanity Invitational H. (G1) at Hollywood. The betting public

obviously felt there was nothing in this field that would prevent her from

running her lifetime mark to a perfect six-for-six.

When the gates sprang open, longshots River Savage (Brz) (First American) and

Bai and Bai (Falstaff) moved out to vie for the lead through dawdling opening

fractions of :25 4/5 and :51 while Nashoba's Key and Balance (Thunder Gulch)

were content to trail far behind. As the field approached the final turn, both

Balance and Nashoba's Key moved up behind the front runners with Victor

Espinoza, aboard Balance, doing a fine job of blocking the favorite in against

the rail.

Espinoza was content to keep this position until the field hit the stretch,

which gave him first run toward the wire and a chance to avenge the two defeats

his mount had suffered to Nashoba's Key. The filly didn't have nearly enough in

the tank, though, and wasn't even able to get to Bai and Bai, who now had the

lead to herself. Jockey Joe Talamo never once panicked aboard Nashoba's Key and

patiently waited for a way between the three horses in front of him. Once he

finally got the bay out into the open, she unleashed an explosive turn of foot

and quickly bounded to the lead before hitting the finish line 1 1/2 lengths in

front.

Bai and Bai held on gamely to finish second, three lengths in front of a

tiring Balance in third.

While the Clement L. Hirsch was the only Polytrack route on the day, there

were six sprints contested with horses closing from off the pace winning four of

them. In addition, there were two turf routes on the day with a closer winning

one and a front runner winning the other.

Michael Baze was unable to add to his total today but still leads the way in

the jockey standings with 21 for the meet. Talamo booted home three winners, all

in tandem with trainer Carla Gaines, and remains in second with 19 followed by

Victor Espinoza with 14.

There was no change at the top of the trainer standings today as Peter Miller

and Doug O'Neill remain in a tie with seven winners each followed by Jeff

Mullins with six.

Horses to Watch

3RD - BLACK MAMBA (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe) had a very impressive North

American debut for trainer John Sadler in this eight-furlong turf event. The

four-year-old filly had been facing group company in New Zealand but had never

really had an overabundance of success against that level of competition. The

bay looked extremely impressive here, though, as she was content to lay off the

pace early through opening fractions of :23 3/5 and :47 4/5 before making a

tremendous closing move through the stretch drive and finishing powerfully late

to hit the finish line 2 1/2 lengths in front.

4TH - MAGIC MYTH (Johannesburg) had a very nice career debut for trainer

Christopher Paasch at a huge price. The dark bay took the lead shortly after

leaving the gate and guided the field through an opening quarter of :22 4/5

before holding off all challengers in the stretch drive to hit the finish line 1

1/4 lengths in front, paying a very juicy $41.80 for the effort.

Tomorrow's Outlook - Monday August 6

Monday's 7TH race is a Cal-bred allowance/optional claiming event, for

three-year-olds and up, going 6 1/2 furlongs over the Polytrack. A field of 12

has been entered in the event and MY CITY BY THE BAY (Perfect Mandate) could

prove the one to beat. The chestnut is coming off a second-place effort here on

July 21 in which he stalked the early pace and actually took the lead in the

stretch drive before surrendering late to come up 1 1/4 lengths short. The

gelding has finished second in three of his last four starts, beating several

members of this field in the process, and could finally be ready for a return to

the winner's circle.

MY MAN MURF (Anziyan) will be trying the Polytrack after three straight

attempts on the grass, including a nice stamina builder going 1 1/16 miles in

his last start. The bay came up only three parts of a length short when he

crossed paths with My City by the Bay and will try to turn the tables now.

SCANDALOUS (Memo [Chi]) has been in good form ever since moving to the synthetic

surface at Hollywood and is coming off a nice effort back in the middle of June

where he stalked the early pace before moving up to press the leader, only to

come up short by a neck at the wire.

ACQUIRE THE FIRE (Globalize) is coming off a respectable third-place finish

in the Forrest White S. at Stockton and could prove capable here with his best

effort.

Monday's Best Plays

4TH - COMICAL VACATION (Comic Strip) comes from the Horses to Watch list

after the trouble she had in her debut in the California Thoroughbred Breeders'

Association S. here on July 20. The two-year-old filly was absolutely mugged

from both sides at the start but recovered well and finished with a nice turn of

foot late to come up two lengths short. The gray did have a bit of consolation

though, as she was moved from fifth to third via disqualification because of the

incident at the start. With a clean trip here, she could prove tough to beat.

7TH - My City by the Bay appears to be in a prime spot for a return to the

winner's circle. The chestnut tops the field in BRIS Prime Power and he has ran

a faster BRIS Speed rating than any member of the field.