“WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW” – DEL MAR
By Jeff Siegel, 1stbet.com Handicapper & Analyst
(For additional commentary, follow us on twitter @jsiegelracing).
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DEL MAR SPOTLIGHT RACES:
First Race: Post: 1:00 PT
Top Pick: 6-Multi Platinum (3-1)
Protected again in starter’s allowance company in a sign of confidence, removes blinkers (love that angle), and projects as the controlling speed in this six furlong sprint, so it all adds up to a major performance for this Steve Miyadi-trained colt. Lightly raced, competitive on speed figures and with plenty of room to improve, the son of Runhappy should offer decent wagering value at or near his morning line of 3-1. For protection, you should also find room on your ticket for 7-D D S Express, a bottom-rung maiden claiming winner when waiver protected in late July while earning speed figure that makes him a fit at this level. It was his first outing since last October (and just his second career start) so the Mike Puype-trained son of Vronsky certainly has a right to produce a forward move.
Sixth Race – Post: 3:44 PT
Top Pick: 4-Speed Boat Beach (5/2)
This is a loaded maiden sprint for juveniles and it very likely will take a stakes quality colt to win it. Let’s go with this Bob Baffert-trained son of Bayern on top. A series of very impressive workouts catches the eye, and according video viewed on xbtv.com this $200,00 OBS March Sale graduate he has the kind of natural early speed that should make him hard to catch at this abbreviated five and one-half furlong distance. At 5/2 on the morning line he’s worth a play in the win pool and in the various rolling exotics. His stable mate, 11-Hejazi, may be the one to fear most, though he’ll have to draw in from the also-eligible list. A troubled runner-up in his debut, the $3.35 million auction buy has returned to work splendidly, so with a clean trip from outside draw (assuming he gets in) the son of Bernardini figures right there. 1-Jam Session has trained like a stone runner as well, and if he breaks cleanly from the rail the son of Maclean’s Music should have a major say in the matter and at 8-1 offers good price value.
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DEL MAR RECOMMENDED ROLLING EXOTIC STRATEGIES:
(Races 1-5)
1st race: 6-Multi Platinum; 7-D D S Express
2nd race: 3-El Tigre Terrible; 4-Established
3rd race: 7-Gregory’s Pride; 1-Straight No Chaser
4th race: 7-Dual Threat; 8-Maynard; 6-Rusty B Cause; 4-Sproston
5th race: 1-Coalinga Road; 11-Midnight Jostar; 7-Relaxed Artist; 2-Lu Mu Bai
(Races 6-11)
6th race: 4-Speed Boat Beach; 11-Hejazi; 1-Jam Session
7th race: 2-Sally’s Sassy; 5-Thebestisyettobe; 6-Havana Angel; 7-Commanche Country
8th race: 6-Home Cooking; 5-Fast and Shiny; 2-Kissed by Fire
9th race: 5-Going Global
10th race: 3-Moose Mitchell; 8-As Amatter of Fact
11th race: Kitty Kitana; 3-Velvet
DEL MAR WORKOUT ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY:
THIRD RACE:
Straight No Chaser (September 2, Santa Anita, 5f, 58.2h). Grade: A-
Looked terrific, just as he did prior to his debut win, breezing through the lane, final quarter in :23.4. Should get tested on the raise but figures to be dangerous right back.
View Workout Video
Gregory’s Pride (September 4, Del Mar, 4f, :47.1h). Grade: B+
Sharp as a tack in solo half mile main track breeze, final quarter mile in :23.3. Prototype late-running turf sprinter maintains his edge.
View Workout Video
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FIFTH RACE:
Relaxed Artist (September 3, Del Mar, 5f, 1:00.1h). Grade: B
Nice work, breezing to the top and then responding when being joined by Wirly Girly (4f, :48.2h) close home, plenty left late while drawing clear approaching the wire, final quarter mile in :24.4. Ran well in U.S. debut in February but was stopped on, appears to be returning in good shape for M. Glatt.
View Workout Video
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SIXTH RACE:
Jam Session (September 3, Del Mar, 4f, :47.3hg). Grade: A-
Quite sharp in gate drill with Malibu Coast (4f, :48.4hg), leaving that one far behind under light urging only while finishing with a ton left, splits of :35.3 and :47.3 for M. McCarthy. Plenty of talent, for sure; son of Maclean’s Music brought $280,00 at the OBS April Sale (previewed in :10 flat) and it’s easy to see why.
View Workout Video
Speed Boat Beach (September 3, Del Mar, 5f, 58.3hg). Grade: A-
Rocket ship in B. Baffert barn breezed splendidly in company inside Arabian Lion (same time) while always going the better of the two under a nice hold and finishing without undue pressure to record blazing final time in team gate drill, splits of :23.4, :46.2 and :58.3, something left late. Bayern colt has been burning up the track in the a.m. for several weeks and finally makes it to the post. Will take a high class juvenile to beat him if he performs in the afternoon like he has in the morning.
View Workout Video
Fort Bragg (September 4, Del Mar, 5f, :59.2h). Grade: B+
Actually worked a full six panels out to the seven furlong pole while proving best over Reincarnate (5f, :59.4h), breaking off a length or so behind and then drawing clear late before being urged past the wire, splits of :24.1, :35.4, :59 flat and 1:12.1 on our watches. Very nice prospect though we suspect the barn’s two other entrants in this race might be a tad better at this stage. Was $700,000 yearling purchase by Tapit.
View Workout Video
Hejazi (September 4, Del Mar, 6f, 1:12.1h). Grade: A
Splendid solo breeze for B. Baffert, picked him up already moving at the half mile pole and carried him out all the way around to the six furlong pole on our watches in :12 flat, :24 flat, :48 flat, 1:00 flat and 1:13 flat, never asked before easing up in the final eighth of a mile. Can’t wait to see him stretch out around two turns, cost a fortune and looks the part.
View Workout Video
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SEVENTH RACE:
Excelia (August 28, 4f, :52.4h TC DU). Grade: B-
See Thebestisyettocome (below)
View Workout Video
Thebestisyettocome (August 28, 4f, :52.4h TC DU). Grade: B-
Breezed outside stable mate Excelia (same time) for P. D’Amato, neither one asked a drop with both looking while in nothing more than a high gallop. Hard to separate but on pure form ‘Come may be the more highly regarded of the two.
View Workout Video
Havana Angel (August 28, Del Mar, 4f, :48.2b TC DU). Grade: B+
Very nice solo breeze around dogs on grass, straightforward and professional for L. Powell while finishing with plenty left. Arrived a few weeks ago and recorded four local drills since arriving from overseas. Nice sort looks plenty fit.
View Workout Video
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EIGHTH RACE:
Fast and Shiny (September 2, Del Mar, 5f, :59.4hg). Grade: B
Was under heavy restraint during the early stages of this work and then was mildly coaxed late inside Elwood Blues (same time) while breezing a full six furlongs, splits of :24.3, :36.1, :47.4, 1:00.2 and 1:13.2 on our watches, strong move for B. Baffert after scoring in her debut in promising fashion last month. Daughter of Bernardini seems very likely to improve with experience and distance, certainly a nice prospect.
View Workout Video
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