Del Mar Daily Notebook

DEL MAR DAILY NOTEBOOK

MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 2007

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 up going eight furlongs over the

Polytrack. Victory Design (Ire) (Danehill) was sent to the gate as the favorite

in his first start for trainer Peter Miller. The gelding had been competing

primarily in Kentucky, where he had put in some decent but unremarkable efforts

so though he fit in well here, it was a bit of a surprise to see him take so

much of the betting public's money.

Unfortunately for the chalk players, Victory Design trailed the field early

and failed to improve his position from there, eventually crossing the finish

line in last.

In the end, it was OLD MAN RIVER (Event of the Year) who lay just off the

pace early through opening fractions of :25 1/5 and :50 1/5 before rallying in

the stretch drive to hit the finish line 1 1/4 lengths in front. The dark bay

was making his first start since November of last year, but the gelding returned

to the track full of run with a very determined performance here.

Anziyan's Song (Anziyan), who was also making his first start since last

November, put in a game effort through the stretch drive but was forced to

settle for second, 1 1/4 lengths in front of Bernasconi (Rahy) in third.

The 7TH was the only main-track route offered on the card Monday, but as for

the five Polytrack sprints, horses closing from off the pace won three of them.

In addition, there were two turf routes, one of which was won by a runner

stalking the early pace and the other by a closer.

Michael Baze added one to his total today and still leads the way in the

jockey standings with 38 for the meet. Joe Talamo also added one to his total

today and remains in second with 28. Victor Espinoza booted home a winner today

and is closing ground on second with 21.

Doug O'Neill didn't have any runners on the day but is still showing the way

in the trainer standings with 16 for the meet. Jeff Mullins' lone starter made

it into the winner's circle, and he remains in second with 14. John Sadler,

Craig Dollase, and Miller remain in a tie for third with nine winners each.

Horses to Watch

1ST - ANGEL CRAFT (A. P. Indy) found the return to the grass to be exactly

what she needed to get her back into the winner's circle in this 1 1/16 mile

allowance event. After running very well in each of her first two starts on the

lawn, including a 6 1/2-length maiden score at Santa Anita, the chestnut

attempted the Polytrack and finished fourth. The four-year-old filly definitely

showed that she belongs on the turf today, though, as she stalked the pace early

through opening fractions of :24 1/5 and :49 before taking command in the

stretch drive and cruising home to an easy 2 1/4-length victory.

4TH - MEAN HEAT (Unusual Heat) put in a nice effort in her second try over

the lawn in this eight-furlong claiming event. The three-year-old filly was

content to lay off the pace early through opening fractions of :22 2/5 and :46

before kicking it into gear in the stretch drive on her way to an easy

three-quarter of a length victory.

Outlook for Wednesday, August 22

Wednesday's 7TH race is an allowance/optional claiming event for fillies and

mares, three-years-old and up, going 1 1/16 miles over the Jimmy Durante Turf

Course. A field of eight is set to go to the post, headed by ANDREA (NZ) (Danasinga),

who is coming off a fifth-place effort in the John C. Mabee H. (G1) here on

August 4, in which she came up only 2 3/4 lengths short. Prior to that, the

chestnut put in a respectable effort to finish second in the Beverly Hills H.

(G2) at Hollywood, where she stalked the pace throughout to miss by 2 1/2

lengths at the wire. A drop out of graded stakes company may be all she needs to

get her back into the winner's circle.

LOGAN AVENUE LINDA (Acecho) was claimed last out after rallying from just off

the pace for an easy three length victory. She moved into the barn of trainer

Mike Mitchell, who wins 25 percent of his starts off of the claim. The class

hike may not be that big an issue, as she has run well at this level in the

past. CHARMING LEGACY (Ire) (Danehill) has been to the winner's circle in two of

her last three starts on the grass. The bay's defeat came in her latest effort

here and at this level on July 29, where she stalked the pace throughout only to

miss by a nose at the wire.

BOSSET (Stravinsky) holds interesting price play possibilities as she

finished close behind Charming Legacy last out. The chestnut rallied from 7 3/4

lengths off the pace to cross the wire in fifth but was beaten by only 1 3/4

lengths.

Wednesday's Best Plays

1ST - AFLEET'S DESIRE (Northern Afleet) will be making the jump to starter

allowance company after breaking her maiden against claiming company here at Del

Mar in her last start. The bay stalked the pace early before taking over in the

stretch drive for an easy 3 3/4-length victory while posting the best BRIS Speed

rating of any member of this field. The three-year-old filly tops the field in

BRIS Prime Power by more than five points and also leads the way in BRIS Class

rating. Afleet's Desire has posted a nice solid maintenance work here since her

last start and appears to be more than capable of making a return visit to the

winner's circle.

2ND - I DIG HER (Old Topper) won't offer much value as a win wager but should

make an excellent key for all exotic wagers in this claiming event. The chestnut

is coming off a game second-place effort in the California Thoroughbred

Breeders' Association S., in which she vied for the lead from start to finish

only to come up a half-length short at the wire. Though the drop into claiming

company after such an outstanding performance against stakes competition may

seem a bit suspicious at first, the connections originally claimed her for

$40,000, so they stand to make a very nice profit even if she gets claimed here.

The two-year-old filly tops the field by more than four points in BRIS Prime

Power and her best BRIS Speed ratings absolutely tower over this field.