Del Mar Notebook

DEL MAR NOTEBOOK

JULY 30, 2014

by John Mucciolo

A trio of graded races led the way this week at

Del Mar Race Course.

Bing Crosby S. (G1): Tom Mansor's BIG MACHER (Beau Genius) sat a fine

trip behind a dueling pair, took a short lead in midstretch and inched clear to

to post a fine half-length score under Tyler Baze. The Richard Baltas trainee

finished off six panels in a swift 1:08 4/5.

San Diego H. (G2): Kaleem Shah's FED BIZ (Giant's Causeway) went to

the lead as the gates opened and never looked back in posting a decisive 5

1/4-length tally with Martin Garcia. The Bob Baffert trainee sped 1 1/16 miles

on the Polytrack surface in a stakes record 1:41 under hand urging.

Cougar III H. (G3): Gainesway Stable et al's IRISH SURF (Giant's

Causeway) was sent to the lead as the gates opened and romped in the most

convincing fashion, leading by a clear margin every step of the way under Elvis

Trujillo. The well-bred Dan Hendricks trainee finished 8 1/4 lengths clear and 1

1/2 miles on Polytrack in a stakes-record 2:29.

Track Stats

From a total of 46 races held over at Southern California racetrack during

the past week, favorites won at a 17 percent clip and the top two betting

choices combined for 34 percent of the wins. From 35 frays contested on the

Polytrack oval, nine animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (26 percent), while two

of the 11 grassy tussles went all the way on the lead (18 percent).

The main oval was pretty good to speed sorts once again, though we saw more

winners rally from well off the pace during the second week of racing. We still

prefer horse that can sit in the first, or even second flight, early on and will

continue to give those and edge if they make any kind of sense.

Turf sprints are really leaning to speed horse on this very firm oval, but at

route races, all types can win as we saw a few very deep closers come through.

Both wire jobs came at five furlongs this past week.

However, they canceled turf racing Sunday to improve the surface and will be

adding wax soon to alter the main track, so conditions could continue to change

in the coming weeks.

We witnessed no winning favorites from Wednesday-through-Friday, proving how

hard this meeting is for the bettors right now.

Kent Desormeaux (9) and Mike Smith (5) are both bringing home winners at a

rate of 20 percent or more, and they bear following going forward on this quirky

surface.

On the trainer's front, Peter Miller went atop the standing after a strong

week with nine overall winners, though saddling the second amount of starters

here has a little something to do with it. Michael Pender (33 percent), Vann

Belvoir (27 percent), Mark Glatt (24 percent) and Bob Baffert (21 percent) have

all saddled at least three winners while retaining a good win rate.

Meet Totals

RACES:		86
POLYTRACK:		61
TURF:		25
FAVORITES:		20 (23 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		15 (17 percent)
TURF WIRE:		4 (16 percent)
POLY WIRE:		16 (26 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (7/23)

1ST -- STEALTH DRONE (Smoke Glacken) was awfully game at first asking when

battling back in the lane after being passed en route to a nice debut tally.

This looks like a heady claim for conditioner Doug O'Neill.

2ND -- Owner/trainer Bobby Wayne Grayson had STYLISH IN BLACK (Street Hero)

ready for sure off the 15-month absence as the rolled past this field in a

daylight maiden romp under Elvis Trujillo. Keep an eye on this one going

forward, as horses who win at this meeting often come back with big efforts.

6TH -- DUBLIN DANCER (Thewayyouare) left little doubt in this claiming run

for trainer Andy Mathis after a big score today. The Golden Gate shipper was

last early but put in a punishing run and finished more than eight lengths clear

under the wire. We'd say this lass appreciated the Polytrack surface in this

affair.

Thursday (7/24)

8TH -- BENCH LIGHT (Benchmark) turned in one of the better performances of

the week when destroying this field late on his way to a 6 1/4-length tally for

conditioner Michael Pender. We'd imagine the five-year-old gelding will stay at

longer trips going forward after this impressive late kick.

Friday (7/25)

2ND -- NEWFOUND GOLD (Newfoundland) got off of his hanging ways recently with

a very sharp run in this well-matched claiming field for Jeff Bonde. The

seven-year-old always flashes speed and is well placed turning for home nearly

every outing, and he should be a useful claim for Kristin Mulhall.

8TH -- SAM'S SISTER (Brother Derek) overcame a tough rail draw in a sharp

debut with a good field to graduate at first asking. The Jerry Hollendorfer

charge finished up six panels on the main oval in 1:09 4/5, but it was the

professional manner more than the final time we were impressed by. The filly

might be a nice one going forward.

Saturday (7/26)

3RD -- OLYMPIC LADY (Fusaichi Pegasus) ran about as well as a first timer can

without winning, but this Victor Garcia pupil should be graduating before long

after this big second-place finish.

5TH -- WINNING RHYTHM (Giant's Causeway) was eased in her latest effort prior

to the finish, but the Paddy Gallagher trainee finished this one, and well at

that, in reeling in a clear leader in the lane en route to victory. The

well-bred four-year-old is a pretty consistent closing type and might even get a

stakes chance on this course during the meeting.

6TH -- We tabbed BATTLE OF EVERMORE (Scat Daddy) in here and the Salder first

timer fell just shy in a sharp third-place run. We consider this to be another

one who should be in the winners' circle before long.

Sunday (7/27)

1ST -- The Blake Heap-conditioned TRIBALIST (Tribal Rule) sped to the front

early and held a safe edge throughout in posting a maiden tally in this opener.

The lightly raced filly has run big in all three lifetime outings and could

evolve into a stakes runner for these connections with steady improvement.

5TH -- ROCK ME BABY (Rock Hard Ten) turned his form around in a big way in

this spot with a rallying win to pull away late for trainer Craig Dollase.

Second in this race last summer, the five-year-old left little doubt on this

occasion. We've long admired this hard knocker.

7TH -- Trainer Eoin Harty rarely wins with first-time starters, so when

REDSHIRT (Distorted Humor) made a big late run to be third after a slow start,

it caught our eye. The Darley homebred will be tough with a bit more experience

and likely more ground to work with.

8TH -- GODLENCENTS (Into Mischief) sat a nice trip and rallied well to be a

fine second in this race for the second straight season. The Doug O'Neill

trainee may have needed the race off the pine and will be tough right back as he

is consistently very good.

A Look Ahead

Saturday will play host to the Grade 1, $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes,

while the Sunday topper is the Grade 2, $250,000 Best Pal Stakes.