Del Mar Daily Notebook

DEL MAR DAILY NOTEBOOK

THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2007

by Brian P. Turner

A mere field of four went to the gate for Thursday's 2ND race, an

allowance/optional claiming event for fillies and mares, three-years-old and up,

going eight furlongs over the Polytrack. Dona Amelia (Chi) (Big Blue) was sent

to the gate as the favorite off the fact that she was taking a big class drop

after finishing fourth last out in the A Gleam Invitational H. (G2) at

Hollywood. After laying off the pace through an opening quarter that went in :23

4/5, then moving up to stalk the pace in a half that went in :48 3/5, the gray

mare closed with a nice turn of foot through the stretch drive but was forced to

settle for second, beaten by only three parts of a length.

In the end, it was GREAT OPINIONS (Rahy) who rallied from off the pace and

closed determinedly through the stretch drive to pick up the victory. The bay

was making her first start since finishing fifth in the Milady Breeders' Cup H.

(G2) at Hollywood on June 3. The five-year-old mare rebounded well off that

lackluster effort with a nice performance here.

Velvet Moonlite (Malibu Moon) crossed the wire in third, a length behind Dona

Amelia but 11 lengths clear of Hey Hey Renee (Anziyan) in last.

While the 2ND was the only route race contested over the Polytrack on the

day, there were four sprints, two of which were won by horses on or near the

pace and two by runners closing from off the pace. As for the turf, there were

two routes contested on the day with a closer winning one and a horse pressing

the pace winning the other. There was also a turf sprint on the card, which was

won by a front runner.

Michael Baze didn't added to his total today but still leads the way in the

jockey standings with 18 for the meet. Joe Talamo went winless on the day and

remains in second with 15. Corey Nakatani booted home one winner and remains in

third with 13.

Peter Miller added one to his total today and still leads the way in the

trainer standings with seven for the meet. Jeff Mullins saddled two winners on

the day and has taken over the second spot with five. Three trainers, including

Doug O'Neill and Bobby Frankel, are tied for the third spot with four winners

each.

The Pick 6 carried again today, leaving a massive carryover going into

Friday's card of $632,816.

Horses to Watch

1ST - SEEKING ANSWERS (Ire) (Shinko Forest) has now narrowly missed in both

starts since being claimed and moved into the barn of John Sadler. After

finishing third at Hollywood, beaten by three parts of a length, the bay

returned to lose by a nose here. Sadler has been a bit cold for the meet thus

far with several of his runners finishing second and third. He is eventually

going to heat up and when he does, Seeking Answers is a prime candidate to be

one of those who visits the winner's circle.

3RD - RESPECTTHEOFFICER (Officer) was extremely impressive in this maiden

claiming event. The two-year-old filly took the lead out of the gate and guided

the field through an opening quarter of :22 3/5 before widening her advantage

from there and opening up in the stretch drive to hit the finish line 6 1/4

lengths clear of her closest rival.

Tomorrow's Outlook - Friday, August 3

Friday's feature is the California Dreamin' H. for Cal-breds, 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 gate and several among the field appear to have a legitimate

shot of having their picture taken. EPIC POWER (Epic Honor) has reeled off three

nice efforts in a row, including a win last out in the Korbel H. at

Hollywood, where he stalked the pace early before finishing well late for a

one-length victory. Prior to that, the gelding put in a game performance to

capture the Khaled S. also at Hollywood. The bay could prove to be tough to beat

if he maintains his current form.

LUCKY J. H. (Cee's Tizzy) is one of the more accomplished members of the

field but he will be making his first start since winning the Ack Ack H. (G3) in

June of 2006. Though he has never tried the grass in his career, the bay's

pedigree suggests he should handle it just fine if he is ready to roll after the

long vacation. BOLD CHIEFTAIN (Chief Seattle) led from gate to wire last out to

claim the victory in the Alamedan H. at Pleasanton by four lengths. In his last

start on the grass, the dark bay battled from beginning to end to finish second

by 1 1/14 lengths in the Bay Meadows Derby (G3). If allowed to have his own way

early, he could be tough to run down late.

Those looking for value may consider DADSALITTLEUNUSUAL (Unusual Heat). The

gelding is rarely off the board when he runs on the grass, as his record of

11-3-1-3 will stand testament. An upset is not out of the question here at what

should be a generous price.

Friday's Best Plays

1ST - SUGAR DOLL (Western Fame) stalked the pace early on her way to a game

victory here in her last start when she hit the finish line a nose in front

while making her first start for trainer Frank Monteleone. The four-year-old

filly will be taking a bit of a class drop in this event, which should leave her

in a great position to repeat. The chestnut is near the top of the field in BRIS

Prime Power and her BRIS Class rating tops the field.

3RD - FOREST MISS (Forestry) put in a nice effort here on July 20 when she

stalked the pace early before finishing well late to clear her maiden condition

by 1 3/4 lengths. The dark bay tops the field in BRIS Prime Power and her BRIS

Class rating also leads the way. The three-year-old filly is going well now and

is more than capable of returning to win this starter allowance event.