Del Mar Daily Notebook

DEL MAR DAILY NOTEBOOK

MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2006

by Brian P. Turner

A field of nine, including one coupled entry, went to the gate for Monday's

7TH race, an allowance event for three-year-olds and up going eight furlongs

over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. COURTNALL (Cherokee Run) was sent to the

gate as the favorite after missing by only a nose at this level last out. The

dark bay rewarded his backers with a visually impressive performance. The

five-year-old gelding was content to lay well off the pace early through testing

opening fractions of :21 4/5 and :44 4/5 but as the field approached the final

turn, Courtnall began to close ground on the pacesetters and finished with a

tremendous turn of foot through the stretch to cross the finish line three

lengths in front.

Victory Voodoo (Victory Gallop) vied for the lead throughout and put in an

extremely game performance to hit the wire in second, a half-length clear of a

fast closing Boboman (Kingmambo) in third.

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

near the pace winning three of them, while the lone dirt route was won by a

runner closing from off the pace. In addition to the 7TH, there was one other

turf route which was won by a runner closing from off the pace.

Victor Espinoza has all but wrapped up the riding title. He went winless on

the day but still leads the way with 47 for the meet. Martin Garcia took off the

remainder of his mounts after being thrown from the saddle shortly after leaving

the gate in the 6TH, but he remains in second with 35. Corey Nakatani guided

home Courtnall in the 7TH to take sole possession of the third spot with 27.

Doug O'Neill was unable to add to his total today but still leads the way in

the trainer standings with 16 for the meet. Jeff Mullins went winless as well

but is still in second with 14. John Sadler's lone starter did not get its

picture taken today and he remains in third with 11.

Horses to Watch

3RD - OUTLAW JONES (Old Trieste) put in a very nice effort in his first

attempt on the turf though he wasn't quite able to make it into the winner's

circle. The chestnut attempted to guide the field from gate to wire in this

eight-furlong claiming event as he vied for the lead through opening fractions

of :22 2/5 and :46 3/5. Once the field hit the stretch, the three-year-old

gelding dug in gamely but couldn't quite hold on until the end and was forced to

settle for second, beaten by 1 1/2 lengths. A return against similar would make

him a threat.

4TH - SCHUSKY'S ECHO (Swiss Yodeler) had a very nice career debut for trainer

Mike Harrington. Though the chestnut finished third, she was beaten by only

three parts of a length after fighting for the lead through opening fractions of

:22 and :46. With a race under her belt, the two-year-old filly could easily

make it into the winner's circle in her next start, provided she returns against

similar.

Outlook for Wednesday, August 30

Wednesday's feature is the Generous Portion S. for Cal-bred two-year-old

fillies going six furlongs on the main track. A field of eight is set to go to

the post, including five who are exiting the California Thoroughbred Breeders'

Association S. here on July 21. CES'T MARK (Benchmark) narrowly picked up the

victory in that event as she rallied from just off the pace to hit the wire a

neck in front. The bay has put in three nice solid maintenance works since and

is more than capable of repeating.

WON MORE PENNY (In Excess [Ire]) was the second-place finisher in that event

and has been showing improvement with each start since returning from a short

vacation back in June. If she takes another step forward here, she could

definitely turn the tables. LITTLE CITY (Swiss Yodeler) will be making her first

start since May when she broke her maiden against open company while posting a

very solid 101 BRIS Speed rating. The chestnut has been working steadily for her

return and looms a threat if ready after the vacation.

SHAROANA (Lord Carson) attempted to lead the field from gate to wire in the

California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association but tired late to finish third,

beaten by 1 3/4 lengths. If the dark bay is allowed to have things her own way

on the lead, she is definitely a danger. SWISS ROSE (Swiss Yodeler) was well bet

in that same event but finished fifth, beaten by 5 1/2 lengths. It wouldn't be a

surprise if she turned the tables here.

HELLO BOLLY (Swiss Yodeler) will be returning to state-bred competition after

taking a shot against graded stakes company but will need to show more to have

an impact here. PRENUPTIAL (Broken Vow) and HIGH CHOLESTEROL (Until Sundown)

round out the field.

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

Wednesday's Best Plays

4TH - ATTACK ALERT (Souvenir Copy) will be making his first start since

winning at this same $10,000 claiming level at Hollywood back in early May. The

bay possesses a ton of early speed and, if ready after the layoff, should have

things his own way on the lead early which will leave him plenty in the tank for

the run to the finish line. The five-year-old horse tops the field in BRIS Prime

Power by more than eight points and also leads the way in BRIS Class rating. The

published works for his return have been few and far between but when it comes

to bottom level claiming horses, that isn't always a bad thing.

6TH - SEA BATTLE (Seattle Bound) has looked good in each of his starts on the

grass. The bay is coming off a solid second-place effort where he finished well

late to miss by a nose at the wire against state-bred allowance/optional

claiming company. The BRIS Speed rating posted in that effort makes him

extremely competitive here and he is also near the top of the field in BRIS

Prime Power. The three-year-old gelding possesses a nice late turn of foot and

there should be plenty of pace to set him up here.