TODAY AT DEL MAR; Cost $6.50; August 12, 2018 by Richard Eng
Post Time 2 p.m. PT
Race 1 – 1 1/16th miles (turf, rail at 18 feet), Purse $62,000, Optional claiming $80,000, 3-year-olds
2 Zestful – When horses run well over synthetics, they normally can handle turf too, love the Presque Isle Downs angle
6 Jimmy Chila – Found a new home on grass n was claimed in last by Ron Ellis, aggressive $40K to $80K move by the barn
Long Shot – 4 True Royalty
Race 2 – 1 mile, Purse $30,000, Claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up
5 Macho Gabacho – Drayden Van Dyke is hired by Keith Desormeaux due to his brother Kent riding the morning line favorite
4 Dukes Up – Kent Desormeaux is riding for Steve Miyadi, a trainer he hasn’t ridden for much in the past, interesting
Long Shot – 7 Crown The Kitten
Race 3 – 6 ½ furlongs, $100,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
3 Anonymity – Richard Mandella treated her old school by winning thru her conditions, now ready to try first time stakes company
4 Skye Diamonds – She has not run nearly as well or as fast as last year, let’s see if she can rebound to her best form
Long Shot – 6 Moonshine Memories
Race 4 – 5 ½ furlongs, Purse $20,000, Claiming $16,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
7 Neon Gypsy – Could be a nice claim by Gary Sherluck as she has some back class n appears to be feeling a lot better
8 No Wine Tasted – Martin Pedroza is still winless so expect him to put this filly on the lead n ride w all that he’s got
Long Shot – 1 Coalinga Hills
Race 5 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 18 feet), Purse $60,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds
1 Magnificent McCool – With his pedigree he should be going long on turf, not sprinting like last which may have been practice
10 King Of Speed – Showed a new dimension on grass in last, must overcome a parking lot post in this 2-turn mile
Long Shot – 2 Rjeka
Race 6 – 6 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Claiming $12,500, Fillies, 3-year-olds
9 We Will Re Joyce – Battle of the hot barns as William Morey claimed her off a live 3-race winning skein
2 Myrcella – The Peter Miller barn is winning races as fast as the racing office can write the next condition book
Long Shot – 5 Atrevida
Race 7 – 5 furlongs, Purse $60,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds
4 Music To My Ears – This baby cost $400K at the Ocala Sales and has been working like it, watch the tote board for clues
3 Aardvark – you will have a big edge over me in seeing the tote board activity on a full field of first time starters
Long Shot – 10 Spin Lightning
Race 8 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 18 feet), Purse $48,000, Claiming $50,000, 3-year-olds
5 East Rand – Gets class relief after knocking heads in turf stakes, if he has anything left in the tank this is the spot
2 Shadow Sphinx – I think Richie Baltas claimed this horse for his turf potential, draw a line thru the last race in slop
Long Shot – 8 Shane Zain
Race 9 – 5 ½ furlongs, Purse $30,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, Cal-breds, Fillies, 2-year-olds
7 Pretty Hussar – Figures to be a short priced chalk in the finale, did everything but win her debut at 3/5 odds
8 Gracie Belle – Gave a good account of herself with a third place finish in debut, had pretty much a wide trip thoughout
Long Shot –6 Athleisure
Best Bet – 3 Anonymity (race 3)
Del Mar Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 18/7/$59.40; Long Shots, 10/1/$8.60; Best Bet, 1/1/$2.20
Del Mar Totals – 315/85/$601.60; Long Shots, 160/20/$289.80; Best Bets, 19/9/$33.60
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #5 Lady Apple (4/1) in race 6 at Saratoga. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Almanaar ran second at Arlington Park paying $4.80 to place and $3.80 to show. Stats – 127/82/$628.50; Follow me on Twitter: @richeng4propick; Register to my home page for FREE at www.racedaylasvegas.com