(For additional commentary, follow us on twitter @jsiegelracing).
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DEL MAR SPOTLIGHT RACES:
Third Race: Post: 3:06 PT
Top Pick: 8-For A Laugh (9/5)
English invader is fresh off the plane and ready to win right now in this maiden turf miler for juveniles. Technically sporting the highly productive two-sprints-and-a-stretch out angle, the son of Australia exits a pair of hot races that produced Timeform ratings that suggest he will easily outclass this field. A very respectable fourth of five in the Superlative S.-G2 at Newmarket before being purchased private, the Simon Callaghan-trained colt had a nice, easy breeze last week to tick him over and with turf master Umberto Rispoli taking the call this promising colt looks very much like a short price worth taking.
Seventh Race – Post: 5:07 PT
Top Pick: 6-Home Cooking (2-1)
Trainer Bob Baffert holds the aces (as usual) in this maiden special weight sprint for juveniles, with preference on top going to the filly with a prior race under her belt. This daughter of Honor Code got caught in a torrid speed duel in her debut and paid the price late, weakening to finish third as the favorite in a strong affair that should prove highly productive. The blinkers off angle – one of our favorites – is another major plus, so at 2-1 on the morning line she’s a highly logical top selection. Stable mate 3-Muteki makes her first start, and if she runs as well as she trains the daughter of American Pharoah should be highly competitive. Purchased for $1 million at the OBS March sale, she’s plenty quick but can finish, too, and with a trouble-free trip could give ‘Cooking all she can handle. Also worth tossing in somewhere on your ticket is the debuting 9-House of Magic, a $200,000 OBS June sale purchase by Good Magic. She smoked a quarter mile in :20 4/5 during the preview session, so we know she can run.
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DEL MAR RECOMMENDED ROLLING EXOTIC STRATEGIES:
(Races 1-4)
1st race: 10-Shemakescents; 11-Gypsy Lynn; 4-Big Jolt; 1-R Silver Flash
2nd race: 7-Italiano
3rd race: 8-For A Laugh
4th race: 5-Disc Jockey
5th race: 2-Disco Ball; 5-Handsome Cat; 7-Albizu
(Races 5-8)
6th race: 8-Rip City; 4-King Cause; 5-Flashiest
7th race: 6-Home Cooking; 3-Muteki; 9-House of Magic
8th race: 8-Eddie’s New Dream; 5-Rose Dawson; 7-Sassyserb
9th race: 11-Your Ringer 7-Smiling Thunder; 6-Keep Your Coil
10th race: 2-Gem Mine; 5-Dendera; 9-Claddagh Cure
DEL MAR WORKOUT ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY:
THIRD RACE:
Argentina Cries (August 11, Del Mar, 6f, 1:14h). Grade: B-
Stride-for-stride inside Brand Loyalty (6f, 1:13.4h) while both being ridden pretty good out to the 7/8 pole, final three furlongs on our watches in :24.3 and :37.4, doing his best to the end for P. Miller. Juvenile son of Empire Maker has Kingmambo on the bottom side of his pedigree and therefore has a right to do better on grass. Brought $190,000 at the OBS April sale.
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SEVENTH RACE:
Curl Girl (August 14, Del Mar, 5f, :59.2h). Grade: B-
Can’t verify fast final time but wasn’t really asked much while clearly second best outside Classical Cat (same time), finishing a couple of lengths behind at the wire (workmate breezing, was debut winner yesterday, top prospect), final three furlongs in a solid :36.2. Curlin filly probably will do her best eventually over a distance of ground.
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Muteki (August 11, Del Mar, 5f, 1:00hg). Grade: B-
Gate work with Reincarnate (same time) for B. Baffert and was never permitted to show here best speed (neither was workmate), splits of :24.1, :35.3, :47.4 and 1:00.2 on our watches, mild late coaxing with a fairly decent response. Guessing she might show her best stuff down the road on grass, perhaps over a distance of ground. Good prospect down the road.
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Electric Glide (August 7, Del Mar, 5f, 1:00.3h). Grade: B
Stride-for-stride outside Hot Date (same time), both under mild coaxing only in the late stages, final three furlongs on our watches in :11.2 and :36.1, solid move. Pedigree suggests she should be at her best over a distance of ground. Let’s see one first.
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She’s Inthearmynow (August 11, Del Mar, 5f, 1:00.3hg). Grade: B
In blinkers, best in gate drill with Zaccheus (5f, 1:02.4hg) for J. Wong, splits of :23.1, :34.3, :47.4 and 1:00.2 on our watches, ridden pretty good in the final couple of furlongs to be doing her best to the end. Definitely has some speed (bred for it), brought $140,000 at the OBS April sale, hard to say if she’s up to beating the monsters she’s likely to face in her debut on this circuit, though.
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NINTH RACE:
Smiling Thunder (August 14, Del Mar, 4f, :46.4h). Grade: B
Blasted off from the pole and went fast early, then understandably slowed up late but wasn’t asked much in the final stages, final three furlongs on our watches in :11.2 and :35.3 on our watches, fairly decent under the circumstances. Bay area shipper should be competitive with modest claimers on this circuit.
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