(For additional commentary, follow us on twitter @jsiegelracing).
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DEL MAR SPOTLIGHT RACES:
Second Race – Post: 2:03 PT
Top Pick: 3-Storming Machine (8/5)
From the first crop of Preakness winner Cloud Computing, this juvenile colt turned heads at the OBS March sale when he sizzled a furlong in 9 4/5 seconds without really being urged, and then brought $560,000 through the ring. After a long series of local drills since joining the John Sadler barn, he makes his debut on grass, a surface he’s not really bred to love but should be able to handle based on his breeze over an all-weather surface in Florida. The one to fear most is Wound Up, a Michael McCarthy-trained colt with credentials similar to our top pick. This son of the promising young stallion Mendelssohn smoked a quarter mile in a sales-topping 20 3/5 seconds, fasted for the distance at the sale, and while he hasn’t been asked to show that kind of speed in his recent drills it’s clear that he has more than enough zip to be very dangerous at this abbreviated five furlong distance.
Fifth Race: Post: 4:03 PT
Top Pick: 7-My Summer Dream (5/2)
This prototype late-running turf sprinter will need some luck to produce a winning late kick in this abbreviated dash over a course with a short stretch but if he find room to rally the Jeff Mullins-trained gelding should be able to tag the speed. A smart runner-up in a similar starter’s allowance event at Santa Anita last time out, he simply ran out of room while finishing more than four lengths clear of the rest in a race that produced a career top speed figure. He’s had two months of rest to recover from that taxing effort, shows a healthy recent series of works, retains Tyler Breeze, and will offer reasonable value at or near his morning line of 5/2. Exacta players should consider 1-Street Art (slower on numbers than our top pick but guaranteed a ground-saving, pace-forcing trip from the rail) and 4-Daniel’s Magic (a big figure maiden special weight winner in early June at Santa Anita and a bold threat if he can repeat that type of performance on the one level raise).
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DEL MAR RECOMMENDED ROLLING EXOTIC STRATEGIES:
(Races 1-4)
1st race: 2-Baker Kait; 6-Tecumseh Caroline; 3-Flame McGoon; 1-Adam’s Creed
2nd race: 3-Storming Machine
3rd race: 6-Perfect Ice Storm 1-Flat Out Joy; 5-Mercy Mercy
4th race: 2-Smiling At Val; 6-Arrest; 9-Precedent
(Races 5-8)
5th race: 7-My Summer Dream; 1-Street Art; 4-Daniel’s Magic.
6th race: 10-Marks Hip; 5-Antipated; 8-Let Him Do.
7th race: 6-She’s Bulletproof; 3-Uncaged Kitty
8th race: 4-Tangledupingrey; 6-Syntactic; 1-Chicknfingerfriday
DEL MAR WORKOUT ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY:
FIRST RACE:
Adam’s Creed (July 10, Santa Anita, 5f, 1:00.4hg). Grade: B
Saw her from the gate last month at Santa Anita; was slow to get moving but then displayed good speed to rush up and clear workmate Single Me Out (4f, :47.4hg) rather easily, remained in front to the head of the lane but drifted wide and began to tire and was caught before the furlong pole, splits of :24 flat, :35.2 and :47.1 (rough changing leads entering the lane). Has had three recorded workouts since then so we’ll assume she’s now fitter and much more experienced for Y. Yakteen and definitely has the kind of early speed that makes her competitive with older straight maiden California-bred rivals.
View Workout Video
Baker Kait (July 30, Del Mar, 4f, :47.2h). Grade: B
A tad green through the lane but finished well enough, final three furlongs in :35.4 in solo main track drill for D. O’Neil. Had a couple of okay runs on grass during the spring; hard to say how much if any she’ll improve on dirt.
View Workout Video
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SECOND RACE:
Storming Machine (August 5, Del Mar, 4f, :48.3h). Grade: B
Did quite well inside stakes-placed Pure Fire (4f, :48.3h) for J. Sadler, never really asked much while appearing slightly best from the 3/8 pole to the 7/8 pole, splits of :12 flat, :36 flat and :48.2 on our watches. From the first crop of Cloud Computing, brought $560,000 at the OBS March sale, where he previewed in 9 4/5 seconds in spectacular fashion and has been working in steady fashion since late May. Dead fit.
View Workout Video
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SIXTH RACE:
Prayforourcountry (August 6, Del Mar, 5f, 1:01hg). Grade: B
Received the faster time but was clearly second best behind El PerfectoAuspice (4f, :49.2hg), asked and ridden throughout and winding up a few lengths back after five furlongs for L. Mendez, splits of :23.4, :35.4, :47.4 and 1:01.4 on our watches. Maiden claimer at this stage.
View Workout Video
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