Del Mar Daily Notebook

DEL MAR DAILY NOTEBOOK

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2007

by Brian P. Turner

A field of eight went to the post for Saturday's featured La Jolla H. (G2)

for three-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

Worldly (GB) (Selkirk) was sent to the gate as the favorite as he attempted to

run his record to a perfect four-for-four since coming to North America, with

two of his wins coming against graded stakes competition. In his most recent

effort, the gelding rallied from off the pace for a nice one-length victory in

the Cinema Breeders' Cup H. (G3) at Hollywood.

When the gates sprang open, Worldly dropped back into a comfortable stalking

position through opening fractions of :25 1/5 and :50 2/5, and was content to

maintain his position until he hit the stretch drive. At that point, though, the

gray encountered a bit of trouble as he found himself facing a wall of horses.

Once he found a way through, the gelding closed with a nice turn of foot late

but could do no better than second.

In the end, the day belonged to MEDICI CODE (GB) (Medicean), who was content

to lay off the pace early but closed with a blazing turn of foot in the stretch

drive to hit the finish line 1 1/4 lengths in front. The chestnut completely

altered his running style today as in his last start, which came in the second

division of the Oceanside S. here on opening day, he vied for the lead

throughout only to come up a head short at the wire. The gelding broke a bit

slowly today, which undoubtedly contributed to his new running style, but the

connections may want to consider using this tactic in the future considering the

impressive performance he put in here.

Latin Rhythms (King Cugat) put in a very game effort by vying for the lead

throughout and digging in determinedly through the stretch to finish third, only

a head behind Worldly.

There were six sprints contested over the Polytrack Saturday with horses on

or near the pace winning five of them. As for the one route, it was won by a

front runner. In addition to the feature, there were two other turf routes on

the card with horses on or near the pace winning both of them.

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

jockey standings with 26 for the meet. Joe Talamo booted home two and is now

breathing now Baze's neck with 25. Corey Nakatani and David Flores remain in a

tie for third with 15 winners each.

Jeff Mullins and Doug O'Neill each saddled a winner on the day and lead the

way in the trainer standings with nine winners each. Peter Miller was unable to

add to his total today and drops to third with eight.

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

together today, leaving a carryover going into Sunday's card of $239,832.

Horses to Watch

4TH - LIL MITCH (Lil Tyler) was content to lay off the pace early in this 1

1/16-mile claiming event through opening fractions of :25 and :50 1/5. As he

came off the final turn, the gray moved into contention but was forced to check

sharply when a runner in front of him was eased. The five-year-old gelding

rallied again, though, and closed with a tremendous turn of foot late to finish

third, beaten by only 1 3/4 lengths.

5TH - MY LITTLE MARGIE (Giant's Causeway) had an extremely troubled North

American debut for trainer Ron McAnally in this 1 1/16-mile allowance/optional

claiming event on the grass. The bay was content to lay off the pace early

through opening fractions of :23 3/5 and :47 2/5 but moved into contention as

the field approached the final turn. Once she reached the stretch though, the

three-year-old filly had absolutely no place to go as she was trapped behind a

wall of horses and was actually even forced to steady once. When she finally

found a way through, My Little Margie unleashed an explosive turn of foot but

could not run down the leaders and was forced to settle for third, beaten by two

lengths. A repeat of this effort, minus the trouble, will land her in the

winner's circle in her next start.

Tomorrow's Outlook - Sunday, August 12

A mere field of five is set to contest Sunday's featured Best Pal S. (G2) for

two-year-olds going 6 1/2 furlongs over the Polytrack. SALUTE THE SARGE (Forest

Wildcat) will be looking to run his career record to a perfect three-for-three

and appears capable in this spot. The bay is exiting a nice victory in the

Hollywood Juvenile Championship S. (G3), where he stalked the pace early before

finishing well along the rail late and getting his nose down in front. The colt

has had four works since then over the Del Mar oval and should be ready for a

nice effort.

GEORGIE BOY (Tribal Rule) broke his maiden last out in his third career start

by rallying from off the pace to take the victory by three lengths in the

Graduation S. here at Del Mar on July 25. This event should not be lacking for

pace on the lead early and the dark bay appears to be the one most capable of

running them down late.

LEONIDES (Richter Scale) beat Georgie Boy in his first career start before

returning to miss by a nose to Salute the Sarge last out in the Hollywood

Juvenile. The bay is more than capable of bringing home the victory here. SKY

CAPE (Najran) pulled off a shocker when breaking his maiden in his career debut

at 71-1, but showed nothing last out in the Hollywood Juvenile as he finished

eighth, beaten by seven lengths. The chestnut would need a drastic reversal of

form to have an impact here.

MIX (Menifee) broke his maiden against claiming company before finishing

third, beaten by 5 1/4 lengths, last out in the aforementioned Graduation. The

dark bay would have to take a major step forward to bring home the victory here.

SLAM SLEW (Grand Slam) was probably the speediest member of the field and

would have been tough here, but he has been scratched.

Sunday's Best Plays

3RD - SOUVENIR SLEW (Souvenir Copy) will be dropping back in to face

allowance/optional claiming company after acquitting himself very well against

graded stakes competition in each of his last two starts. After finishing third

in the Colonial Turf Cup S. (G3) on the grass at Colonial Downs, the

three-year-old colt returned to the synthetic surface at Hollywood to once more

finish third, this time in the Swaps Breeders' Cup S. (G2). The dark bay should

definitely find the going much easier in this turf event.

6TH - SCAT THIEF (Cat Thief) was the victim of a bit of a troubled trip last

out when making his grass debut here on July 20. Despite being forced out, the

gelding put in a very game effort and was running well late to finish third. The

chestnut is near the top of the field in BRIS Prime Power and his BRIS Speed

rating earned in his grass debut is in line with the best of this bunch. The

fact that the meet's leading rider Baze elects to stay aboard doesn't hurt his

appeal either.