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Del Mar 4th Race – Post: 2:00 ET. Degree of confidence: B+
Top Selection: 8-Sea Runner.
Other Contenders: none.
Forecast: This maiden special weight mile grass affair for juvenile fillies came up fairly light, affording a golden opportunity for Sea Runner to graduate at first asking. She’s trained decently on dirt, but based on pedigree this half-sister to the phenomenal older turf horse Johannes should be many lengths better on grass. Since 2-year-olds are not permitted to breeze on the local lawn, we’re flying blind, but it’s a logical assumption that whatever she’s able to do on the main track she’ll do a whole lot better on the sod. The daughter of Gun Runner may not be totally fit or cranked up, but we’re hoping her inherent class will carry her through. The barn’s “go-to” jockey U. Rispoli lands the mount, so we’ll make her a play at or near her morning line of 2-1.
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Del Mar 6th race – Post: 4:30 ET. Degree of confidence: B
Top Selection: 5-Devil Be Me.
Other Contenders: 1-Takes Three; 3-Ferrariano.
Forecast: Devil Be Me took a ton of early heat in his recent sprint win at Santa Anita before reaching back for reserve energy that we didn’t think he had to hold sway through the lane while registering a career top speed figure. That race was a straight $50,000 claimer; today’s event, over a mile on grass, is a first level allowance affair for state-bred runners that doesn’t look any tougher. The son of Grazen has won around two turns in the past and based on the projected race flow he’ll be the controlling speed without having to be used too much. This will be his first try on grass, and offspring of Grazen usually do well on the sod, so a repeat score appears within range for the J. Mullins-trained gelding. At 5/2 on the morning line, he’ll offer a good gamble in the win pool and in the various rolling exotics.
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