The Del Mar summer meeting heats up later today with a really good 11-race card headlined by the first Grade 1 of the meet. The Bing Crosby (G1) goes as Race 10 and makes up the second to last leg of both the late Pick 4 and late Pick 5. The sequences also contain the San Diego (G2) featuring Bob Baffert conditioned Nysos and a relatively wide-open edition of the Daisycutter Handicap. 1/ST BET and Xpressbet has yet another promotion to ensure we are the obvious place to play this big Del Mar card. A Hit & Split for $2500 is available for the late Pick 5 that kicks off in Race 7 and then another $2500 is up for grabs with the Pick 4 that begins with the San Diego (Race 8). Here are my thoughts.
Grade Descriptions: Grade A=Highest degree of confidence; Grade B=Solid Play. Grade C=Least preferred or pass; Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play.
Race 7:
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 8 Soaring Angel; 4 Mama Glows
Backups: 6 Got the Ring; 7 City Lady
Forecast: Most fillies entered in this 2YO two-turn MSW event over the grass are either making their first career start or trying the turf for the first time. That however is not the case for 5-2-ML favorite #6 Got the Ring. The daughter of Liam’s Map battled early and tired late going 5-furlongs at Santa Anita on May 30. She seems more of a default top choice than anything else making her tough to get overly excited about, but she is no doubt amongst the top contenders. #4 Mama Glows also has raced over the lawn before, but did very little running in her first start at Horseshoe Indianapolis. That said, there is a lot more incentive this afternoon with the Ship & Win Bonus on the line for the daughter of Nyquist. Do not be surprised if she takes a big step forward.
#7 City Lady is the first-time starter projected to take the most money. She is by City of Light and the first foal out of a Tapit mare, but probably gets bet based on Flavien Prat showing up to ride if nothing else. She can win, but I prefer #8 Soaring Angel. The half-sister to star turf miler Johannes makes her first career start for trainer Tim Yakteen. I expect her to take more money than the morning line suggests.
Race 8: San Diego (G2)
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 7 Judge Miller; 2 Nysos
Backups: 1 Midnight Mammoth
Forecast: #2 Nysos looms large off the freshening in this year’s San Diego. The $550k OBS April 2023 purchase has done very little wrong through five starts for Bob Baffert. His lone loss was by a neck in the Churchill Downs (G1) where he lost little in defeat in one of the year’s strongest races. His lone two-turn start came in February ’24 when he crushed the field in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) before going to the sidelines for 15 months. He is the clear one to beat, but probably not the one to bet since he will be a very short price.
Hopefully, that is #7 Judge Miller. The regally-bred 5YO had hit the board in 6 consecutive races to start his career before a no show in his first start outside of California in late June. I am willing to forgive that effort from the Mark Glatt trainee since his barn struggled overall for the most part in Kentucky that week. The son of Curlin should get a cleaner trip from the far outside over a racetrack he finished second over in his only start. At his price, he is worth a swing in his return home for a barn that is capable of heating up big time Where the Turf Meets the Surf.
Race 9: Daisycutter H.
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 3 Lovin’ On the Run; 2 Imaboutago; 7 Spicybug; 6 Uncorked
Backups: None
Forecast: #10 Pushiness was made the 5-2 ML favorite in this 5-furlong dash for fillies and mares over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. The Repole Stable runner looks like the speed of the race on paper and very well could make the lead, but there may be reason to question her chances. Not only as she struggled to finish the deal in three consecutive races at 2-1 or less, but she is exiting 6 and 6.5 furlong races at Santa Anita Park. They play far differently than the turf sprints at Del Mar, especially when the temporary rails are out. I am not in love with anyone specifically in the second stake of the afternoon, but I am willing to take a swing against a horse that I think will be over bet in most pools.
Race 10: Bing Crosby (G1)
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 2 Dr. Venkman; 7 Mbagnick
Backups: 6 Roll on Big Joe
Forecast: This year’s Bing Crosby is a good one with some of Southern California’s familiar faces and a few new ones shipping in from across the country. The pace is unlikely to be chaotic, but like most one-turn races out west it certainly should be honest. This should benefit #2 Dr. Venkman (pictured). It has been three starts since the son of Ghostzapper hit the wire first, but one of them came going 1 1/4 miles in the Pacific Classic (G1) last August with the other two coming this spring to Nysos and his rival today #6 Roll on Big Joe last out in the Kelly’s Landing (G3) at Churchill Downs. Look for Dr. Venkman to turn the tables on him with a perfect mid-pack trip under jockey Antonio Fresu.
#7 Mbagnick is also worth consideration. The son of Practical Joke was claimed for $80k last out by John Sadler and Hronis Racing. I have seen this movie before where these connections make a big claim with the goal of a stake in the horse’s next start. He draws favorably outside the other main speeds and could get overlooked based on his 0-3-record thus far at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
Race 11:
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 6 Flyover
Backups: 3 Miracle Mark; 1 Suchet; 9 A Day to Remember
Forecast: The pace should be honest in this first-level allowance over the grass to close the card, but #6 Flyover still looms the clear one to beat in the finale. The Om colt showed a lot of grit holding off 6-time winner Jimmy Blue Jeans in his first try against winners on May 31. He will have to earn it, but does benefit some from the rails being out at 18 feet and having one of the best turf jockeys on the circuit aboard. If he fails to get to the wire first, a few others have a chance, including European import #1 Suchet. If they go at it early, he could be the one making the final move at an 8-1-morning line offering.
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