Del Mar Notebook

DEL MAR NOTEBOOK

JULY 22, 2015

by John Mucciolo

A pair of graded races on the lawn headlined the opening week at Del Mar.

Eddie Read S. (G1): Britt and House's GABRIEL CHARLES (Street Hero) swung

wide at the top of the lane and cruised home an emphatic, 3 3/4-length winner

under the guidance of Mike Smith. The Jeff Mullins pupil endured nine panels on

the firm lawn in 1:48 in posting his initial Grade 1 win.

San Clemente H. (G2): DP Racing LLC's PRIZE EXHIBIT (Showcasing) moved wide

approaching the turn for home and exploded late to win this one going away by 1

1/2 lengths. The James Cassidy trainee got her one mile on the good turf in 1:36

beneath Santiago Gonzalez.

Track Stats

From a total of 38 races held over the Southern California racetrack during

the past week, favorites won at a 34 percent clip and the top two betting

choices combined for 53 percent of the wins. From 30 frays contested on the dirt

oval, five animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (17 percent), while none of the

eight grassy tussles went all the way on the lead.

We thought that speed did not hold much of an advantage on the main oval this

past week as we assumed it would. Saturday saw a trio of winners lead at every

call, including two in route runs, but horses pressing and stalking the pace had

the best go of it during the opening stanza.

A total of 25 of the 30 main track races were taken by horses breaking

outside of the inner three post positions. In addition, only one runner breaking

from the rail came home good on the dirt.

Meet Totals

RACES:		38
DIRT:		30
TURF:		8
FAVORITES:		13 (34 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		7 (18 percent)
TURF WIRE:		0 (0 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		5 (17 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (7/16)

2ND -- ALWAYS A CHANCE (Redattore) made a fine last-to-first move to win

going away in this dash and impressed in getting her final quarter mile in a

solid :24 2/5 under Tyler Baze. The six-year-old might be a shrewd claim for

Adam Kitchingman.

5TH -- PALMILLA (Tribal Rule) chased lone speed to the top of the lane and

pulled away late in a most impressive debut score for conditioner Mark Glatt,

who rarely wins first out like this. The juvenile filly could not have looked

too much better and looms large in a likely stakes try in her comeback attempt.

8TH -- FOREST BLUE (Tale of Ekati) did everything right but win this race in

leading nearly every step of the way before falling a nose short under the line.

The gelded sophomore was more than three lengths clear of third and will be

tough with even slight improvement in his next outing.

Friday (7/17)

1ST -- D. SHIFFLETT (Valid Expectations) was behind a clear leader late, but

ran that one down in a securing very professional debut score for trainer

Michael Stidham. The gelded juvenile was going away late and could be super

tough if properly placed in his subsequent outing.

6TH -- In just her second run on the dirt since coming to the U.S., the

capable BARUTA (Crimson Tide) seems to have found a new home after running clear

in the lane in a fine allowance tally under Flavien Prat. The consistent

six-year-old came home fast and in a strong final time and posted a 103 BRIS

Speed number for her efforts for Mandella.

Saturday (7/18)

3RD -- UNCLE LINO (Uncle Mo) just missed between a potentially nice pair and

finished more than five lengths clear of third in a very sharp debut offering

for trainer Gary Sherlock. The juvenile colt ran a winning one in defeat and

will not be a maiden for long with anything like this showing.

4TH -- TWENTYTWENTYVISION (Pollard's Vision) has fine form coming into his

graded debut, and he ran a big one in leading in mid-stretch and finishing a

nice second for Richard Mandella. The four-year-old gelding proved he belongs

with this type and should have a nice second half of 2015 in front of him.

9TH -- We don't think DR. FAGER'S GIRL (Wild Desert) beat a great field in

this heat, but the Hollendorfer trainee did corral a clear one and pull away

late under Martin Pedroza. Expect the capable sort to be stakes bound right

back.

Sunday (7/19)

1ST -- NAZARETH (Bluegrass Cat) made a nice middle move and stayed on through

the lane to be what we thought was a very good third in this race giving up

ground every step of the way. The Hector Palma-trained filly will be very tough

with a better pace set up next time.

6TH -- Bob Baffert's PRETTY N COOL (Scat Daddy) sped to the front and never

looked back in proving much the best in her first offering. The juvenile miss

came home in a swift final time and could be any kind going forward.

DREAMY ART (Tiz the One) chased the winner every step of the way in second

and stayed on well to be clear of third in a useful debut showing for trainer

Adam Kitchingman. Tab this youngster to be very tough in her comeback outing.

A Look Ahead

The weekend feature at Del Mar is Sunday's $300,000 Bing Crosby (G1). Also

slated in the graded ranks is the $200,000 San Diego H. (G2) on Saturday and

Friday's $100,000 Cougar II H. (G3).