“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:
Fourth Race – Post: 3:37 PT
Top Pick: 5-Thorne House (5/2)
Ran a winning race in defeat when a sharp runner-up in his debut in June at Santa Anita, missing by a half-length while more than three clear of the rest in a fast, highly rated race. The son of Clubhouse Ride has worked extremely well since (see below) and seems certain to produce a significant forward move with a race under his belt. There’s plenty of value in the win pool and in the various rolling exotics at or near his morning line of 5/2.
Tenth Race: Post: 4:37 PT
Top Pick: 10-Getthemoney (5-1)
This is a loaded maiden sprint for juvenile fillies containing several highly regarded first time starters that appear fit and ready for top connections. We’ve settled on this daughter of Midnight Lute, a $230,000 OBS April sale purchase who has been spectacular in her morning preps for trainer Brian Koriner. Drawn comfortably outside, she can pop and go or stalk and pounce depending upon the race flow, but no matter how the race shapes up she should be difficult to outrun. Also worth a look at a price (8-1) in the exotics is 5-Princess Bettina, a first-timer by Will Take Charge who hasn’t been asked for her best in morning works but moves like a very nice sort and could at least get a piece of it.
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DEL MAR RECOMMENDED ROLLING EXOTIC STRATEGIES:
(Races 1-5)
1st race: 5-Noisey Burglar; 7-Square Footage; 9-Darling Donna
2nd race: 2-So It Would Seem; 5-Crimson Rose; 5-M Is for Magic
3rd race: 1-Park City; 5-Blocked; 3-Crypto Man
4th race: 5-Thorne House
5th race: 4-Sumter ; 2-Stayincotai; 5-Babo Spirit
(Races 6-11)
6th race: 10-Getthemoney; 5-Princess Bettina
7th race: 2-Big Hand; 5-Worse Read Sanchez; 7-Shot of a Lifetime
8th race: 5-Queen of Thorns; 6-Teddy’s Barino
9th race: 10-Big Treat; 5-Lady Maryann; 1-Dancing Dana; 6-Iconic Sky
10th race: 2-Absolutely Zero; 10-E Z Pharis
11th race: 5-East Rand; 7-Tartini; 11-Move Over; 10-Via Egnatia
DEL MAR WORKOUT ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY:
SECOND RACE:
So It Would Seem (July 14, Santa Anita, 5f, 1:00.2h TT). Grade: B
Light coaxing only in solo training track drill, final three furlongs in :12 flat and :36.2, nice move. Was claimed back by J. Sadler, an encouraging sign, returns protected, looks good, and maintains her form.
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THIRD RACE:
Crypto Man (July 21, 5f, 1:02.2h). Grade: B-
Tied in with Angel Nadeshiko (4f, :49.3h) and finished more than a length behind at the wire but was merely galloping in the final furlong, better move than the final time would indicate for S. Callaghan. Doesn’t have sprinter’s quickness, which is why he’s debuting over a distance of ground. Something to work with here.
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FOURTH RACE:
Thorne House (July 15, Santa Anita, 4f, :47hg). Grade: A-
Breezing from gate outside Anacapa (same time), always in hand and proving clearly best in the final furlong, easy early, strong late, splits of :24 flat, :35.2 and :47 flat, quite sharp for D. Pederson. Ran big in debut and can only get better.
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American Cat (July 23, Del Mar, 5f, 1:01.1hg). Grade: B-
Slow early while head-and-head inside Hard Times ((4f, :48.2hg), was asked to pick it up midway and finished out reasonably well, splits of :25 flat, :49 flat and 1:01.4 on our watches for D. Pederson. Has bit of run but seems like a down the road type.
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FIFTH RACE:
Sumter (July 30, Del Mar, 7f, 1:26h). Grade: B-
Went off quickly and paid the price late in this solo seven furlong drill, final three furlongs in :38 flat. Much better mover on grass and likely will stick to the lawn.
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SIXTH RACE:
Divinely Bolt (July 30, Del Mar, 4f, :47.4hg). Grade: B-
Ridden from the gate and was kept to some pressure most of the way while proving much best over Aloha Kitten (4f, :48.1hg) and Tizzy Twister (4f, :48.4hg), splits of :24 flat, :35.3 and :48.1 on our watches, a couple of ticks slower than given for S. Ruis. Has some run but doesn’t strike us as a particularly quick sort from the gate. The others didn’t show much.
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Princess Bettina (July 28, Del Mar, 4f, :47.3hg). Grade: B
Nice gate drill inside Cheekiest (4f, :48.1hg) for P. Eurton, hard held in a moderate opening quarter (:24.1) but then picking it up entering the first turn and drawing clear with authority, :35.3, and :48 flat on our watches before galloping out with plenty left, easing into five furlongs in 1:01.3. Has more speed than she was allowed to show here and acts like a filly with some ability. Fit enough by now.
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Fast and Shiny (July 31, Del Mar, 4f, :48hg). Grade: B
Under a nice hold inside Fort Bragg (same time) in gate drill for Baffert while actually working a full five furlongs with splits of :24.2, :36.1, :48.4 and 1:02 flat, able to go faster if allowed to. Quick-actioned filly by Bernardini has a series of fast works on her resume and should be a live item first time out.
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Doinitthehardway (July 31, Del Mar, 5f, :59.2hg). Grade: B+
Slightly second best inside National Treasure (same time) for B. Baffert in gate work without undue pressure, splits of :23.4, :35.1, :47.1 and :59.4 on our watches with ‘Treasure edging clear outside in the final stages of the drill. Street Sense filly certainly has some ability and should be more than fit and cranked up by now.
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Getthemoney (July 24, Del Mar, 5f, :58.4hg). Grade: B+
Blazing gate work for B. Koriner while much best over Don’tthinkjustdoit (5f, 1:00hg), never really asked much, finishing in hand and with something left, splits of :23.3, :35 flat, :46.4 and :58.4 on our watches, very impressive. Daughter of Midnight Lute looks like the real deal and will take some beating in debut.
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EIGHTH RACE:
Ten Rings (July 29, Del Mar, 5f, 1:00.4h). Grade: B-
In blinkers, ridden through the lane while lumbering home with a final half mile in :23.3 and :48.1 for J. Wong. Was a game winner in his debut at Los Alamitos, should find this group much tougher but she is bred to run long and improve with experience.
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Queen of Thorns (July 24, Del Mar, 6f, 1:12.4h). Grade: B+
Can’t verify final time (picked this team up approaching the quarter pole) but went very nicely for P. Eurton to be even but slightly best over Lady Aces (same time), mild coaxing only in the final stages while coming the final quarter mile in a sharp :23.4 (and then galloped out well). Freshened since spring, coming back better than she left, won her debut easily so we know she can fire fresh.
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NINTH RACE:
Big Treat (July 31, Del Mar, 4f, :47hg). Grade: B+
In blinkers, clearly best over 2-year-old Electric Glide (5f, :59.2hg, three lengths back when eased up after five furlongs), some coaxing early but mostly in hand late, (plenty left), splits of :23.4, :35 flat, :46.4 and :59.2 for a full five furlongs on our watches. Won her only start by 10 lengths in April of 2021 but had to be stopped on, returns with all of her speed, and appears to be dead fit and ready for Hanson.
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TENTH RACE:
Absolutely Zero (July 24, Del Mar, 5f, 1:00h). Grade: B
Went off slowly, was asked to pick it up midway and finished well enough while being ridden out mildly, splits of :25.1, :37 flat and 1:00.3 on our watches, nice in the final stages. Probably will do her best eventually when given more distance to work with but is perfect in two starts in abbreviated sprints so far.
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