Del Mar Daily Notebook

DEL MAR DAILY NOTEBOOK

MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2007

by Brian P. Turner

A field of five 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. With the scratch of Siren Lure (Joyeux Danseur), VISA PARADE (Arg)

(Parade Marshal) was sent to the gate as the heavy favorite. The bay made his

North American debut at Golden Gate back in June and stalked the pace early on

his way to a second-place finish, beaten by three lengths, in the Berkeley S.

(G3).

Visa Parade rewarded the chalk players by lying well off the pace early

through very quick opening fractions of :22 4/5 and :46 2/5 before digging in

determinedly through the stretch drive to wrestle away the lead and hit the

finish line in front by a neck. Railroad (Double Honor), who was coming off a

second-place effort at this level here on July 19, was near the pace early

through those testing opening fractions and dug in gamely through the stretch

but was forced to settle for second. It was another 5 3/4 lengths back to

Worchester (GB) (Spinning World) in third.

There were four sprints contested over the Polytrack Monday, with horses

closing from off the pace winning three of them. In addition to the 7TH, there

was one other route on the day which was won by a front runner. Also, there was

a turf route and a turf sprint on the card, with a front runner winning both of

these as well.

Michael Baze rode a pair of winners today and still leads the way in the

jockey standings with 31 for the meet. Joe Talamo went winless today but remains

in second with 25. Victor Espinoza rode two winners today and is alone in third

with 17.

Doug O'Neill saddled two winners today and now has the top spot in the

trainer standings all to his own with 12 for the meet. Jeff Mullins went winless

on the day but remains in second with 10. John Sadler added one to his total

today, moving him into a tie for third with Peter Miller. The duo has eight

winners each.

Horses to Watch

2ND - KAPALUA BAY (Mutakddim) had performed nicely in his first start on the

grass on July 25, as he stalked the pace early only to come up a length short in

the end. The chestnut obviously learned from that effort, as he absolutely

dominated this allowance/optional claiming field. The four-year-old colt took

the lead out of the gate, guided the field through an opening quarter in :22

1/5, and absolutely opened up with an explosive turn of foot through the stretch

drive. Kapalua Bay hit the finish line 3 3/4 lengths in front under nothing but

a brisk hand ride early and under a tight hold late.

5TH - HEYORE (Old Topper) sprang to life in a big way in his second career

start. The bay was content to lie well off the pace early through opening

fractions of :23 and :46 3/5 before moving up to challenge for the lead as the

field came off the turn. The four-year-old gelding then uncorked with an

impressive turn of foot and opened up on his competition to hit the finish line

three lengths in front.

Outlook for Wednesday, August 15

With the scratch of the three also-eligibles, a field of eight is scheduled to contest

Wednesday's featured Green Flash H., for three-year-olds and up, going five

furlongs over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. SCOTTSBLUFF (Siberian Summer) will

be looking for his third win in a row sprinting on the grass, with his most

recent success coming in the Robert Kerlan Memorial H. at Hollywood where he

stalked the pace early before digging in determinedly through the stretch drive

to hit the finish line a nose in front. The dark bay has made five starts on the

lawn over the course of his career and has posted a record of 3-2-0. In

addition, Scottsbluff appears to be one of the speedier members of the field

which should serve him well, as front runners have won six-of-nine five-furlong

turf sprints thus far for the meet.

BONFANTE (Fruition) stalked the pace early and finished well late to

narrowly finish second in the Robert Kerlan. The bay holds a record of 6-4-1-0

at the distance with his only out of the money start coming in last year's

running of this event. The six-year-old gelding will be stalking the pace early

and it will take little more than a head bob's difference from his last start to

turn the tables here. QUEEN'S IMAGE (Halo's Image) has reeled off two wins in a

row sprinting on the grass and has never been off the board in four starts over

the surface, including a third-place finish here last summer when he was

beaten by only 1 1/2 lengths. The bay could definitely have a say in the outcome

with his best effort.

DOUBLE ACTION (Double Honor) showed a nice turn of foot early in the second

division of the Oceanside S. here on opening day in his turf debut. The dark bay

has been successful sprinting in the past, and the cut-back in distance could

prove enough to get him into the winner's circle at what should be a very

generous price.

Wednesday's Best Plays

3RD - CELTIC WAY (Benchmark) had reeled off a couple of wins in a row until

her last start when she finished third, beaten by 4 3/4 lengths, against

the very same level of state-bred claimers she faces today. The six-year-old

mare was a bit further off the pace early than she typically is and was just not

able to make up the needed ground in the stretch drive. The chestnut is one of

the speedier members of the field, so expect her to be a bit closer to the pace

and a legitimate threat now that she has a start over the surface to her credit.

Celtic Way tops the field by more than seven points in BRIS Prime Power and she also

leads the way in BRIS Class rating as well.

6TH - EARNEDNEVERGIVEN (Cee's Tizzy) will be trying a route after putting in

nice efforts sprinting in each of his last two starts, a win on

the grass and a second-place effort on the synthetic surface at Hollywood.

Trainer Michael Machowsky wins 32 percent of his starts when running a horse at

a sprint distance at least twice before stretching them out to a route, and this

one appears to be capable of handling the added ground with no problem. The bay

tops the field in BRIS Prime Power, and his BRIS Speed rating he earned last

out is on par with the best of this bunch.